Reinvigorating Constitutional Economic Democracy, UIN Jakarta Hosts National Youth Cooperative Jamboree to Drive Sustainable Business Incubators

JAKARTA, UIN Online News – Reaffirming the role of youth-led cooperatives in driving national economic resilience, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta officially inaugurated the 2026 National Student Cooperative Jamboree (Jamkopnas) on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. Centered on the theme "Seeds of Change: Youth Cooperative Cultivating Culture, Nature, and Community for a Sustainable Future," the national summit brought together 135 student delegates representing 35 regional echelons from across Indonesia's provinces.

The grand opening was attended by UIN Jakarta Vice Rector for Student Affairs Professor Ali Munhanif, Ph.D., Executive Chair of the Indonesian Cooperative Council (DEKOPIN) Ir. Priskhianto, M.B.A., alongside Special Staff to the Minister of Cooperatives David Bastian.

Addressing the national assembly, DEKOPIN Executive Chair Ir. Priskhianto underscored that youth cooperatives represent the direct implementation of Article 33 of the 1945 Indonesian Constitution, which mandates economic democracy based on collective solidarity.

He urged university student cooperatives (KOPMA) to modernize beyond basic campus retail, evolving into strategic hubs for regional economic growth.

"Government policy is prioritizing cooperative expansion," Priskhianto emphasized. "Student cooperatives must position themselves as strategic campus business incubators, commercial unit managers, entrepreneurship laboratories, and primary bridges connecting academic talent with national industry."

Echoing this vision, Vice Rector Professor Ali Munhanif highlighted that Jamkopnas 2026 aligns with Indonesia's evolving national economic policy, reigniting youth participation in sustainable, solidarity-based economic models.

Running through August 6, 2026, the three-day national gathering combines rigorous academic competitions with strategic networking fieldtrips across UIN Jakarta faculties and external industry sites in Bogor.

Organized by Student Committee Chair Mei Shelly Alivia, the competition tracks evaluate student capabilities in:

• National Business Plan Pitching: Developing sustainable, eco-conscious venture models suitable for industry scaling.

• Economic Policy Debates and Essays: Formulating strategic policy recommendations for modernizing cooperative governance.

• Youth Ambassador Selection (Abang None Kopma): Elevating young spokespersons to advocate for cooperative entrepreneurship among Generation Z.

By transforming a student competition into a high-level summit on constitutional economic democracy and business incubation, UIN Jakarta demonstrates how university cooperatives serve as vital engines for Indonesia’s sustainable economic future.

(Meisa/Zaenal/Arifin/Photo: Azka Raysa)