The entrepreneurial role of Indonesian universities in the economic development of rural communities: in search of empowerment

Seeking to broaden the view of what constitutes the role of entrepreneurial universities in transitional economies, this chapter discusses the way in which Higher Education in Indonesia has over several decades used service learning programmes to contribute to rural development and encourage the growth of small village enterprises. In recent years, programmes bringing together universities and local government have introduced sophisticated initiatives designed to empower rural communities politically, socially and economically. Central to the new thinking has been the engagement of students in seeking to identify the immediate needs and the potential of communities to develop their own local entrepreneurial ventures. At the same time, units within universities, working closely with government ministries, and using the insights gained from student reporting, are focusing on specific projects that can create sustainable economic and social development. It is still too early to gauge the success of this new integrated approach. Nonetheless, the projects described in the chapter demonstrate that the concept of entrepreneurial universities should not be limited to teaching and research activity or the establishment of campus hubs, but should also incorporate the potential for direct engagement at grassroot sites in which students have a major role to play as facilitators and knowledge brokers.