Universitas Andalas and APINDO West Sumatra Establish Partnership to Strengthen Student-Based MSME Internship Program

Padang, April 23, 2026 — Universitas Andalas (Unand) has officially established a strategic partnership with the West Sumatra Provincial Board of the Indonesian Employers Association (DPP APINDO West Sumatra) through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on a student-based internship program in Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in West Sumatra.

The MoU was signed by the Chair of DPP APINDO West Sumatra, AE Rina Pangeran, S.E., MBA, and the Rector of Universitas Andalas, Dr. Efa Yonnedi, S.E., MPPM., Akt., in Padang. This collaboration is built upon a shared commitment to fostering institutional development and contributing to national development through a mutually beneficial partnership.

Through this agreement, both parties aim to develop a student-based internship program focused on the MSME sector. The program will involve 1,000 students from Universitas Andalas who will be deployed to assist 200 MSMEs fostered by APINDO across West Sumatra. This initiative is expected to provide students with practical, real-world experience while simultaneously supporting the growth and competitiveness of local MSMEs.

This collaboration also aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) by enhancing practice-based learning, SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by improving graduate employability and supporting MSME development, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through strengthened collaboration between academia and industry.

The Rector of Universitas Andalas, Dr. Efa Yonnedi, stated that this partnership represents a strategic step in bridging academia and industry. He emphasized that direct student involvement in the MSME sector will provide valuable hands-on experience essential for preparing graduates for the workforce.

Meanwhile, the Vice Rector IV of Universitas Andalas, Prof. Henmaidi, highlighted that this collaboration plays an important role in strengthening institutional partnerships, particularly in supporting the implementation of the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) program. According to him, synergy between universities and business associations will open broader opportunities for students to develop industry-relevant competencies.

The Director of Partnership and Innovation of Universitas Andalas, Dr. Eng. Muhammad Makky, added that the collaboration extends beyond internships and holds potential for further development in research commercialization and innovation that can be utilized by MSMEs. He expressed hope that this partnership could serve as a sustainable model for collaboration between academia and industry at the regional level.

In addition to enhancing students’ competencies and work readiness, this collaboration is expected to drive MSME growth and competitiveness through knowledge transfer and innovation from academia to industry. The implementation of this MoU will be further detailed in a separate Cooperation Agreement (PKS) in accordance with applicable regulations.

Moving forward, Universitas Andalas and APINDO West Sumatra aim to implement this partnership through concrete and sustainable follow-up programs. This synergy is expected not only to benefit students and MSMEs but also to contribute significantly to regional economic growth and the development of high-quality human resources in West Sumatra.