Though the pandemic of Covid-19 still spreads around the world, it does not stop the implementation of collaboration of Universitas Internasional Batam (UIB) with overseas partners. UIB and Ming Chi University of Technology (MCUT), Taiwan are collaborating to conduct Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Online Workshop 2020. The objective of this workshop is to promote and integrate design thinking and entrepreneurial spirit into innovative models. Therefore, the outcome is to design and organize a business plan. This workshop is collaboratively facilitated by MCUT professors and UIB lecturers who are experts in entrepreneur field; From MCUT side there are Dr. Jau-Rong Chen, Dr. Yi-Ching Liaw, Dr. Chin-Hsiang Lin, Dr. Chun-Min Yang, Dr. Wan-Ying Lai and Dr. Zun-Hwa Chiang and from UIB Dr.Agustina Fitrianingrum was assigned as the Instructor which also assist by UIB lecturers such as Erna Wati, S.E., M.M., Gladies Imanda Utami S.T., M.Arch., Isnaini Nuzula Agustin, S.Si., M.M., Rahmi Ayunda, S.H., M.H. and Tony Wibowo, S.Kom., M.MSI thus the strengths and expertise of the MCUT professors and UIB lecturers may provide the best international and cross-disciplinary education expertise.
The online workshop is attended by 25 students from diverse departments from Faculty of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Planning, Faculty of Computer Science, Faculty of Economics, and Faculty of Education Science. In addition, the workshop is delivered via online platform and is going to last for 9 weeks consisting of 18 meetings; started from August 4th to October 6th, 2020. The participants are going to present their business plan at the end of the meeting. In addition, this online workshop is credited to students’ academic transcript. In other words, students are going to get credits by engaging in this workshop. It proves that UIB is attempting to support students with the opportunity of international experience despite the pandemic of Covid-19. Besides, it indicates that UIB attempts to implement the concept of Merdeka Belajar-Kampus Merdeka which becomes the new focus of Indonesian education system.
