Management Study Program, Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), organized a Practitioner Lecture on Operations Management II featuring the Vice President of Bank Mandiri, Firman Sumabrata, on Thursday (4/6/2026). Conducted at the FEB UNS Auditorium (Building 3), the event carried the theme “Wholesale Banking Strategies to Optimize a Supply Chain System” and was attended by students as part of an effort to integrate classroom learning with real-world practices in the industry.

The Vice Dean for Academic and Research Affairs of FEB UNS, Prof. Tri Mulyaningsih, S.E., M.Si., Ph.D., expressed her appreciation in her opening remarks to the Management Study Program, specifically the Operations Management concentration, for initiating the activity. According to her, practitioner lectures serve as an essential medium to enrich students’ insights regarding evolving practices in the industry.

Prof. Tri explained that one of the current challenges in higher education is maintaining the relevance of study programs to the demands of the professional workforce. Therefore, students need to acquire an understanding that is derived not only from classroom theories but also from the practical experiences of industry professionals. “Hopefully, the knowledge learned on campus can serve as a valuable asset when students build their careers, whether as professionals or entrepreneurs. Through this opportunity, students can learn directly from a practitioner who possesses extensive experience in the banking industry,” she remarked.

Furthermore, she invited students to actively participate in the discussion and use the opportunity to gain as much insight as possible from the speaker.

Meanwhile, the Area Head of Bank Mandiri Solo, Edi Hargiyanto, who is also an alumnus of the FEB UNS, expressed his appreciation for the opportunity given to return and share experiences within the campus environment. He emphasized the significance of collaboration between the university and the corporate sector in preparing graduates to face professional challenges. According to him, practitioner lectures provide a real overview of how various knowledge acquired during university study are applied to numerous management activities such as operations management, supply chains, and business and financial management. Edi also introduced various career opportunities available at Bank Mandiri, stating that human resource requirements in the banking sector today are not restricted to economics graduates but also individuals from various academic disciplines according to organizational needs.

In addition, he introduced the Wirausaha Muda Mandiri program, which is consistently developed to support the growth of young entrepreneurial generations. According to him, knowledge related to management activities is beneficial not only for those pursuing careers as corporate employees but also serves as an important foundation for students who wish to establish and expand independent businesses. Through the presentation by Firman Sumabrata as a banking practitioner, students obtained insights regarding wholesale banking strategies in supporting supply chain efficiency, corporate transaction management, and the role of the banking sector in supporting business growth.

This activity represents one of FEB UNS’s commitments to delivering adaptive learning tailored to industry needs while reinforcing the connection between academic theory and professional practice in the field. This initiative aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) through the provision of practice-based learning and industry collaboration, and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by strengthening student competencies to face the professional workforce and advance entrepreneurship.