The Creative Economy Research Group, Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) hosted a community service in Sumberbening Village, Trenggalek, on Saturday, June 17, 2023. Sumberbening Village is one of the villages in Dongko District, Trenggalek Municipality, where the majority of the population are farmers, PE goat cattle farmers, and a small number of MSMEs.

Sumberbening Village is one of 37 rural tourism sites in Trenggalek Regency. This rural tourism is managed by Pokdarwis “Sengunglung,” in collaboration with the Village Government and also Village Owned-Enterprise (BUMDes) Sumberbening.

With the existing potential of the village, be it the potential of natural resources, human resources, cultural or artificial, the Pokdarwis try to explore and develop this potential as an established culture within the community while providing community-based economic value.

The Head of Community Service Program, Dr. Mugi Harsono, S.E., M.Sc., along with the team, Prof. Dr. Hunik Sri Runing Sawitri, M.Sc., Prof. Dr. Asri Laksmi Riani, M.S., Dr. Intan Novela Qurrotul Aini, S.E., M.Sc., and Suryandari Istiqomah, SE., M.Sc., provide assistance and training to managers of BUMDES and MSMEs in Sumberbening Village.

Community service that took place at the Sumberbening Village Hall focused on the topic of Strengthening Information Technology-Based Business Managerial Skills for BUMDES and MSME Managers at Sumberbening Village, Dongko, Trenggalek.

The Creative Economy Research Group provides several training and assistance materials to the managers of BUMDES and MSMEs in Sumberbening, including work motivation and the basics of starting a business, which includes entrepreneurial mindset and mapping opportunities, determining segments, targets and positioning.

Participants were also trained on how to implement MSME digital marketing strategies which include getting to know digital media, effective and efficient digital marketing strategies, and getting to know about Digital Marketplace. The last material on MSME digital marketing practices includes CANVA flyer design and simple photography as well as promotions through WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Shopee.

Previously, on November 14, 2022, a Partnership Agreement was signed between FEB UNS, Sumberbening Village Government, and involving the STKIP Trenggalek. FEB UNS received a mandate to monitor the management system of several BUMDes’ business units, which will be realized in early 2023.

From the initial meeting, the program members and the BUMDes organizing committee as well as the Head of Sumberbening Village, have agreed that the problem they face is the lack of motivation of the BUMDes administrative staff because their profession has not guaranteed a decent life, the lack of business unit management knowledge and skills, and the lack of knowledge about using information technology to support daily business work.

After receiving training from the FEB UNS Research Group, the BUMDes manager feels that the material is helpful in helping them develop the business unit. They also acquire knowledge about product marketing and also knowledge on how to manage the business digitally