AIESEC in UNS Encourages Youth Resurgence During the Pandemic Period

UNS – An international youth organization in Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, Association Internationale des Etuadiants Sciences Economiques et Commerciales (AIESEC) in UNS, held ‘Forum Muda Surakarta (Surakarta Youth Forum-FMS), on Thursday (18/6/2020). This agenda aims to establish a public channel for the youth and government in Surakarta to build synergy and harmonious relations.
Bringing up the theme on ‘Youth Synergy in Economic Reversal of Surakarta’, AIESEC in UNS is presenting two professional speakers Sumilir Wijayanti, the Head of Social, Cultural, and Government Affairs, Regional Development Planning Agency (BAPPEDA) of Surakarta, and Bhima Yudhistira Adhinegara, an economic analyst from the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF). During the occasion also present the Co-Founder of ‘Kopi Bertopi’, Emmanuele Rendi, who currently is a student in the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) UNS.
The Board of Advisor (BOA) of AIESEC in UNS, Irwan Trinugroho, Ph.D., states that AIESEC in UNS is not only sending students to conduct cultural exchanges abroad but is currently also actively supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) established by the United Nations (UN).
Sumilir Wijayanti as the first speaker states that youth has an important role to contribute to the interests of the country. “Currently, we are entering the demographic bonus period, where the proportion of productive age, in this matter 15 to 35 years old, has reached 30.04% in Surakarta, this can be an opportunity but can also be a threat if not properly managed,” explains Sumilir.
Sumilir adds that the number of unemployment increases due to many employees who were laid off. Responding to this, in line with the central government, the regional government will support the designed agendas to improve existing conditions.
Meanwhile, the second speaker, Bhima Yudhistira Adinegara explains the global condition and takes on the viewpoints from various countries. Then began converging on a portion corresponding to the state of today’s youth, especially in Indonesia.
It is important to realize that nowadays everything is happening rapidly and there need to be adjustments to these conditions. One of the points presented is that the young generation should be able to find the opportunities that exist during this pandemic or even after this pandemic ends. This can be done by observing the consumers’ behavioral changes.
Collaboration for advocation or discussion is also important to be scheduled as a bridge between the community and the government. For instance, the current agenda where the representation of youth, regional government, and experts are met for discussion and exchanging ideas to find solutions.
“To revive the economy condition post-pandemic, you have to find the potential in what people will buy after the pandemic end, or where they will go to? Thus post-pandemic it is not the imported goods that will enter the market, but the young entrepreneurs’ ratio, which currently is only 3.1%, can soar,” Bima hopes. HUMAS UNS/Ratri/Dwi