On Thursday, 27 November 2025, Universitas Terbuka (UT) Gorontalo reaffirmed its commitment to empowering local MSMEs in Gorontalo—an area known for its rich culinary traditions and home-based crafts. This community assistance program was designed to strengthen small home industries so they can grow and improve their competitiveness. Through this initiative, UT not only provides open access to education but also acts as a community partner that directly supports local entrepreneurs. In doing so, UT contributes to local economic growth and strengthens the MSME sector, which is the backbone of Gorontalo’s economy.
One of the MSMEs supported through this Community Service Program (PkM) is Rumah Kue Cinta, a business specializing in traditional wet cakes—an important part of household-based culinary livelihoods in Gorontalo. In a region known for its diverse traditional cakes, small businesses like this play a vital role in both family income and the local economy.
During the mentoring sessions, lecturers from UT Gorontalo provided several types of training tailored to today’s business challenges. The program began with training on using a digital financial app (Buku Kas) to help the business maintain neat and professional financial records. They were also coached on using social media and Canva for digital marketing so their products could reach a wider audience and adapt to modern consumer behavior.
UT Gorontalo further supported the business by providing production equipment to help increase their output and improve product consistency—an important step toward strengthening their competitiveness.
The program was led by Raflen A. Gerungan, M.Si., a lecturer in UT’s Biology Study Program, together with team members Safriansyah, S.Sos., M.Si.; Yasir M. Pidu, SE., MM.; and Nur Asiah, S.Sos., M.Si. Raflen emphasized that the program was more than just technical training—it was an effort to build a strong foundation for local businesses so they can survive and grow in the digital economy.
“We hope this mentoring program brings real benefits to Rumah Kue Cinta in Gorontalo. With the knowledge and support provided, we expect MSME owners to become more independent and competitive in today’s increasingly dynamic market,” he said.
The MSME partner also expressed that the training materials were exactly what they needed. From proper financial recording to digital marketing skills, all of it helped strengthen the sustainability of their home-based business. They thanked the PkM Team and UT’s Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM) for the funding and support provided.
This initiative aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially those related to economic empowerment (SDG 8), quality education (SDG 4), and strengthening local partnerships (SDG 17). Through inclusive and sustainable community service, Universitas Terbuka continues to show its role as a university that not only provides open access to higher education but also creates real impact within the community.
