The Deputy Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) of the Republic of Indonesia (RI) for the 2019-2024 period, Prof. Dr. Ir. H. Fadel Muhammad Al-Haddar, stated, “There are three main qualities that an entrepreneur must possess: innovation, the ability to seek and create opportunities, and the ability to strategize for the future.” Higher education is the right place to begin developing an entrepreneurial mindset, where students can learn to strategize and prepare themselves for diverse processes.
This statement by the Deputy Speaker of the MPR RI for the 2019-2024 period was delivered during a talk session titled “Can Engineers Become Entrepreneurs?” at the Faculty Academic System Orientation (PSAF) event of the Faculty of Engineering (FT) at the University of Indonesia (UI) on Thursday (15/8) in the Balairung UI building, Depok campus. He shared his experiences on his long journey in building a business and emphasized the importance of innovation for an entrepreneur.
“Success is not a destination, but a journey,” he said. He further explained that creativity is like the seed in a fruit, the essence of all life. Therefore, it is important to continually nurture and sharpen creativity by constantly innovating.
“Innovation doesn’t have to mean creating something entirely new; it can start with something simpler, like making something better than it was before,” said Prof. Fadel. “An entrepreneur must also have willpower. There’s a saying that goes, ‘People who die before they die.’ This saying means that the person has no willpower. Therefore, we must continually nurture our willpower so it doesn’t die,” Prof. Fadel added. He also reminded the audience of the importance of interacting with the community, as such interactions provide opportunities to gain better experiences and broaden perspectives.
In front of 2,202 new FTUI students and the moderator, the Head of the FTUI Entrepreneurship and Innovation Unit (WIN), Dr. Muhamad Sahlan, S.Si., M.Eng., Prof. Fadel shared his journey as both an entrepreneur and an academic. He began his career by founding PT Bukaka Teknik Utama, which started as a small-scale motor vehicle workshop and has since grown into a large company in the infrastructure and metal construction sectors with thousands of employees.
He emphasized the importance of having an entrepreneurial spirit for engineering students. According to him, engineering graduates should not only focus on finding a job after graduation but also on identifying opportunities and chances in the community. “From those opportunities, build a new business, become an entrepreneur. Because entrepreneurship is not something inherited, but something learned,” he said.
Prof. Fadel served as Governor of Gorontalo for two terms. During his tenure, he successfully improved the economy of Gorontalo, where the poverty rate had reached 48%. As an alumnus of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) who played a role as an entrepreneur, he recognized the potential of corn as a commodity in Gorontalo, which then developed into a leading product that brought significant change to the local community.
With strong entrepreneurial ideas and spirit, he managed to increase fish production in Gorontalo by 365%. The Acting Dean of FTUI, Prof. Dr. Ir. Mahmud Sudibandriyo, M.Sc., Ph.D., stated, “The presence of Prof. Fadel Muhammad at the PSAF FTUI 2024 event is a valuable moment for new students. The insights he shared about entrepreneurship, particularly in the field of engineering, provide new perspectives for students to be more creative and courageous in seizing opportunities in their post-campus lives.”
As a closing, Prof. Fadel recited a narrative poem titled “The Entrepreneur’s Creed,” which reflects the spirit and life philosophy of an entrepreneur. He expressed that with Indonesia’s demographic bonus, many new jobs will open up, and ultimately, the vision of a Golden Indonesia 2045 will be achieved with the support of a highly qualified younger generation. His presence at PSAF FTUI 2024 not only provided motivation but also opened new insights for FTUI’s new students regarding entrepreneurship in the engineering world.
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Public Communication Office
Faculty of Engineering Universitas Indonesia
