Erasmus Days 2022: Indonesian Erasmus alumni promote entrepreneurship for positive social and environmental impact

Inspiring Indonesian Erasmus alumni took the floor today (15/10) at the Erasmus Days talk show in Jakarta, sharing their experiences of studying and living in Europe, giving valuable career insights and discussing how to create positive impacts through entrepreneurship.

Around 200 people participated in the Erasmus Days talk show on ‘Creating social and environmental impact through entrepreneurship’. Robert Budianto, an alumnus of the Erasmus Mundus Renewable Energy Programme, shared his journey as Java Fresh cofounder in empowering 3,000 Indonesian farmers to export their produce to 20 countries at a fair price; while Kurnia Rosyada, an alumna of the Erasmus Mundus Global Innovation Management Programme and Senior Vice President of Bukalapak, expanded on how she equipped SME practitioners with digital skills to boost their sales throughout the pandemic.

Entrepreneurship is the backbone of the economy, both in Indonesia and Europe. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) represent over 98% of all businesses in the European Union (EU) and Indonesia while bringing positive solutions to challenges like climate change and social cohesion.

“We are proud of the Indonesian Erasmus alumni’s contributions in solving social and environmental challenges while continuing to promote the Erasmus programme and its four priorities: inclusion, sustainable development, digital sector and active participation to democracy,” said Stéphane Mechati, Minister Counsellor, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the EU Delegation to Indonesia. “Under the EU Green Deal, the EU is transforming businesses to be more friendly to the environment and SMEs are central to the EU’s twin transition to a digital and sustainable economy,” he added.

Erasmus Days is also a great opportunity for students to learn everything about the Erasmus programme. Aside from the talk shows, other Erasmus Alumni, Aryo Sahid Sujiwo and Fialisa, shared their experience how to win Erasmus scholarships. Other Alumni also provided live consultation for scholarship seekers followed by an in-depth Coaching Clinic for selected participants.

More than 2,300 Indonesians have received a scholarship under the Erasmus programme since 2004. This year, 91 Indonesian students were awarded the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s (EMJM) degree scholarships, while 119 students and university lecturers were awarded short-term exchange Erasmus+ mobility scholarships to study or teach in universities across Europe.

The Erasmus Days is a global annual event to showcase the EU-funded Erasmus programme, share alumni’s experiences, and support aspiring Erasmus scholars. In 2021, Erasmus Days was held through 5,669 offline and online events taking place in 65 countries across the world. In Indonesia, the Erasmus Days event is led by the Erasmus Mundus Students and Alumni Association (EMA) Indonesia in collaboration with the EU Delegation to Indonesia.

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About Erasmus+ Scholarships

Erasmus+ is a programme funded by the European Union to support education, training, youth and sports. For the 2023 academic year, the application process for the Erasmus+ Mundus Joint Masters programme will be launched around October 2022. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s (EMJM) offers 163 programmes which are available at the following website:

https://www.eacea.ec.europa.eu/scholarships/erasmus-mundus-catalogue_en