UNS — The Financial Services Authority (Otoritas Jasa Keuangan, or OJK) for Region 3 in Central Java and the Special Region of Yogyakarta provided education to students regarding financial literacy, emphasizing that millennials must be prudent in their investments. In today’s digital age, there are numerous digital investment offers, both legal and illegal. Additionally, enticing offers of easy online loans often lure students.
The event, titled “Seminar with OJK: Educating Gen Z and Millennials,” took place in the Auditorium of Building C at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta on Friday (17/11/2023). The seminar was attended by students from the Mathematics and Statistics Study Programs, featuring two distinguished speakers. The first speaker was Tangguh Wicaksono, the Head of the Education and Consumer Protection Subdivision at OJK Region 3 in Central Java and DIY. The second speaker was Kirbani, the Head of the Banking Supervision Subdivision at OJK Region 3 in Central Java and DIY, who is also an alumnus of the Mathematics Study Program at FMIPA UNS.
Tangguh Wicaksono covered topics about an introduction to OJK, financial access, online loans, and investment awareness. To avoid the pitfalls of illegal investments and being ensnared by illegal online loans, Tangguh provided essential tips on the importance of proper financial management. Besides setting financial goals, organizing monthly budgets, and living frugally, he emphasized the need for savings. “Having savings can help handle unexpected expenses, avoid debt, and maintain financial order,” Tangguh explained.
The second speaker, Kirbani, discussed job opportunities and the relevance of mathematics and statistics graduates at OJK. One notable role is that of an actuary. Actuarial studies focus on managing future risks, especially in the financial sector, combining mathematics, statistics, probability, finance, and computer programming.
The seminar with OJK was opened by Eko Yunianto, the Head of OJK Surakarta. Eko stated that OJK, as a financial institution, has the task of regulating, supervising, and protecting consumers. OJK maintains a balance between the sustainable growth of the financial services sector and the simultaneous protection of consumers and the public.
Through this seminar, students become one of the targets for education related to official or formal financial services. It is hoped that educated students will serve as an extension of OJK to provide socialization to the public regarding financial service products, preventing them from making illegal investments or taking illegal online loans.
According to Eko, there are currently more than 100 registered legal online lending applications with OJK, and thousands of applications related to illegal online lending have been blocked. “Currently, there are more than a hundred legal online loans registered with OJK, and more than 7,000 illegal online lending applications have been blocked,” Eko said in his remarks.
Some key considerations for people applying for online loans include ensuring that the online loan is legal, registered, and supervised by OJK, clear identification of administrators and office addresses, transparent information on loan costs and fines, having consumer complaint services, and employees or parties engaged in debt collection have a debt collection certificate issued by the Indonesian Joint Financing Fintech Association (AFPI) or appointed by AFPI. Humas UNS
Editor: Dwi Hastuti
