DEPOK – The Vocational Education Program of the University of Indonesia (UI) successfully carried out a community service project through the launch of the Vokhumfest 2026 festival. This annual event, held at the Green Open Space (RTH) of the UI Vocational Campus in Depok City, served as a platform for applying academic knowledge to boost the competitiveness of local Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

This project integrated the active role of lecturers and students from the Public Relations Study Program in developing communication strategies and business management for real-sector entrepreneurs.

Cross-Generation Collaboration and Mentoring Management

The Head of the UI Vocational Public Relations Study Program explained that Vokhumfest 2026 was designed as a strategic bilateral collaboration space between academics and commercial business actors. The project divided student roles into two functional operational clusters:

  • Event Management: Second-semester students served as the technical organizing committee to develop field managerial skills.

  • Business Consultants: Fourth-semester students acted as intensive mentors for 18 selected MSME units from the Depok City area and its surroundings.

“Through this sustainable mentoring scheme, we aim for MSME actors to expand their market reach, increase production capacity, and transform to level up,” the program head elaborated.

Market Testing through Interactive Community Activities

The series of business interventions carried out during the mentoring period were tested directly at the closing bazaar session of Vokhumfest 2026. All partner MSMEs were given exhibition space to apply the digital marketing and publication techniques they had been taught.

One tactical implementation was demonstrated by the dr. Patisserie booth, a local culinary MSME offering various selected homemade products such as donuts, brownies, soft cookies, cake, and bluder bread.

Marketing Innovation: Interactive Booth Strategy To break the monotony of conventional transactions, the student mentoring team conceptualized the dr. Patisserie booth as an interactive space. Visitors did not just buy finished products but were directly involved in a donut decorating activity. This micro-interaction strategy proved effective in attracting public attention while strengthening consumers’ emotional connection with the product.

Target Output: Economic Independence in the Real Sector

The program head reaffirmed that the main essence of the Vokhumfest 2026 event lies in the long-term output after the event, not merely as a temporary festival celebration.

UI Vocational Education is committed to continuously overseeing the business stability of partner MSME actors through targeted publication networks, expanding collaboration access, and conducting regular mentoring evaluations to create a micro-business ecosystem that is independent, adaptive, and highly competitive in the domestic market.

University of Indonesia (UI)

The University of Indonesia (UI) is a prestigious public university located in Depok, West Java, with its historic campus in Salemba, Jakarta. Established during the Dutch colonial era in 1849 as a medical school for Javanese doctors, it was officially inaugurated as a university in 1950 after Indonesia’s independence. Today, UI is renowned as one of the country’s top institutions, playing a key role in higher education and research.

Green Open Space (RTH) of the UI Vocational Campus

The Green Open Space (RTH) of the UI Vocational Campus is a landscaped area within the University of Indonesia’s vocational education facilities, designed to provide an ecological and recreational buffer for students and staff. Its development aligns with UI’s commitment to sustainable campus practices, incorporating native vegetation and pedestrian pathways. While specific historical details are limited, the space reflects the broader university’s goal of integrating green infrastructure into urban educational environments.

Depok City

Depok City, located in West Java, Indonesia, has a history dating back to the 18th century when it was established as a private estate by Dutch colonial landowner Cornelis Chastelein. Originally a plantation area, it later developed into a residential and educational hub, notably home to the University of Indonesia. Today, Depok is a rapidly growing satellite city of Jakarta, known for its diverse population and modern urban development.