KOTA BARU: The Faculty of Entrepreneurship and Business (FEB) at Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) continues to be the preferred entrepreneurial faculty in the country.
Dean Prof Dr Roselina Ahmad Saufi said the faculty had introduced a variety of programmes to nurture students' entrepreneurship mindset and to improve their entrepreneurial skills.
"Students of today are digital citizens. They are full of energy and they are boundaryless. To learn and do business using any technology platform is not something strange to them. As an educator, we have to support, guide and most importantly engage with them. Using both problem-based and work-based experiences by our lecturers has proven to be the best way to enhance students' knowledge and skills."
In supporting student entrepreneurship development, FEB has established two simulation labs — Chill X retailing simulation lab and the SAL Packaging Lab.
FEB envisions more entrepreneurship, as well as digital entrepreneurship labs to provide the right ecosystem for both students and academics to enhance their skills.
Up to this year, FEB has established 290 student enterprises which are among the highest in the country.
"Impactful collaborations with industries and communities are among the initiatives implemented by the faculty. The establishment of Angkasa-UMK Academy of Research (AURA), which is a joint set up between FEB and Angkasa Berhad is an example of cooperative and social entrepreneurship research."
She said the formation of the FEB Council of Strategists and Friends of Faculty were notable initiatives to allow industrialists and entrepreneurs to be part of the academic development and delivery, and student development.
"With 100 faculty strength, including professors, associate professors, lecturers and 18 administration staff, FEB is highly confident that we can achieve our vision and mission to champion and advance entrepreneurship education in the country."
FEB currently has 3,470 students, the largest enrolment of students among the nine faculties in UMK. To date FEB has produced more than 3,700 students and more than 1,000 entrepreneurs since its first graduation in 2011.
"Our 2019 graduate employability (GE) rate was at 93.1 per cent which is close to the university's GE which is at 93.3 per cent. In addition, FEB has produced successful young entrepreneurs and we are proud that FEB and UMK at large are contributing significantly to the student entrepreneurship agenda of the Higher Education Ministry.
As one of the oldest faculties in UMK, FEB continues to remain competitive in the education field by adapting to new technologies.
By adapting to these new technologies, one of the faculty's projects for its students called 'Entrepreneurship Week', managed to collect about RM92,000 in online sales this year despite the current pandemic.
"The Entrepreneurship Week is a signature programme of FEB and has been held on an annual basis for the past 10 years. Students sell various types of products and goods ranging from women's fashion, to beauty products and food.
"Students used various online platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, twitter, Telegram and WhatsApp. At first, I did not believe the amount that they had collected but when they showed their sales and expenses, they surpassed my expectations," said Prof Roselina.
She believes that future graduate entrepreneurs should learn to create social value through their businesses and understand what it means to be a social innovator.
"FEB is the perfect place to learn about entrepreneurship. It is not merely about doing business but about how one's entrepreneurship mindset and behaviour can be nurtured."
Next year, the faculty will offer a new programme, Bachelor of Accountancy, in collaboration with ACCA and MICPA. FEB also offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Doctor of Business Administration (FBA).
In terms of research, Prof Roselina said FEB continues to endeavour in entrepreneurship research. As of 2020, FEB has acquired about RM1.2 million worth of research grants both nationally and internationally.