How Entrepreneurship Is Transforming South Sulawesi’s Leading University

This week, Sonia, Partnership coordinator of Indonesia, and Paula Mills, our CEO, travelled to Universitas Hasanuddin, the number one university in South Sulawesi, to celebrate a milestone moment—one that signals a profound shift in how education, entrepreneurship, and opportunity are coming together in the region.

What we witnessed went far beyond a program wrap-up. It was the celebration of a new academic culture.

Over 1,000 Students. 250 Teachers. One Shared Vision.

The BossYourFuture Sustainability Program engaged:

• 1,000+ university students

• 250 academic staff and teachers
  

Across faculties and disciplines, students were immersed in practical, industry-focused entrepreneurship education 100% powered by the Academy of Entrepreneurs,learning how to turn ideas into real solutions, aligned with sustainability, innovation, and local impact.

What stood out most was not just participation numbers, but student engagement. Students spoke openly about how different this learning felt:

• Real-world problems, real-world solutions

• They loved building prototypes 

• They enjoyed how practical and engaging class was

From Elective to Core: Entrepreneurship as a Foundation Skill

One of the most powerful outcomes of the program has been institutional change.

As a direct result of the program’s success, the university has:

• Embedded entrepreneurship as a core subject for all 11,000 UNHAS University students 

• Recognised practical, execution-based learning as essential for graduate readiness

• Shifted toward industry-linked, future-focused education models
  

This is not a small change. It signals a long-term commitment to equipping students with employability, adaptability, and entrepreneurial thinking—skills that transcend any single career path.

Backing Students With Real Capital: Seed Funding That Matters

Perhaps one of the most exciting announcements was the university’s next step.

To move students from learning into action, the university will now:

• Fund student ventures with AUD $200–$300 in seed capital

• Support students to prototype, test, and launch real businesses

• Treat entrepreneurship as something students do, not just study
  

This is a critical shift. Access to even modest seed funding removes one of the biggest barriers young entrepreneurs face—and sends a clear message: we believe in you.

Measuring Impact, Designing What Comes Next

For the Academy of Entrepreneurs, this visit was also about reflection and forward planning.

Together with university leadership, we reviewed:

• What worked at scale

• How student confidence and ambition evolved

• Where industry demand and regional opportunity intersect
  

This evidence-based approach allows us to co-design next-phase programs that are deeply aligned with the university’s goals, student aspirations, and South Sulawesi’s economic future.

The Next Chapter: Eco-Tourismpreneurship

Looking ahead, one opportunity stands out clearly: eco-tourism and sustainable tourism entrepreneurship.

South Sulawesi is uniquely positioned:

• Extraordinary natural landscapes

• Rich cultural heritage

• Growing domestic and international tourism interest

• Untapped opportunities for community-led, sustainable enterprises
  

Our proposed next focus—Eco-Tourismpreneurship—will equip students to:

• Build tourism ventures that protect culture and environment

• Create jobs within local communities

• Develop sustainable hospitality, travel, and experience-based businesses

• Align tourism growth with long-term social and environmental impact

This is where entrepreneurship meets regional development—and where education becomes a catalyst for inclusive growth.

A Model for the Future of Higher Education

What we saw at Universitas Hasanuddin is a glimpse of what higher education can be:

• Practical

• Purpose-driven

• Industry-connected

• Impact-oriented
  

We are proud to stand alongside the university as a long-term partner, supporting students and educators to build a future where learning leads directly to opportunity.

And this is only the beginning.