The Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FKG UGM), continues to advance the establishment of the Mitra Denta Cooperative. To ensure sound governance, the FKG UGM Cooperative Technical Team held a consultation meeting with Paminto Adhi, S.E., M.Si., Head of Administration at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIPOL UGM), at the OECF Building on Wednesday (24 June).
The preparatory meeting was attended by the prospective Chair of the Mitra Denta Cooperative, drg. Hendrawati, M.Kes., along with members of the management team, faculty members, and administrative staff from FKG UGM. This strategic initiative was undertaken in response to the stagnation of the cooperative sector in the digital era while also capitalizing on the significant market opportunities within the university ecosystem.
As part of its development process, FKG UGM has adopted FISIPOL UGM as a benchmark for developing its business model. The Sospol Sejahtera Bersama Cooperative at FISIPOL UGM is recognized for its successful digital transformation, earning the Best Merchant Award for the Java, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara region from Bank Indonesia in 2025 for achieving a high volume of QRIS transactions.
Speaking to the FKG UGM team, Paminto Adhi shared his experience that the success of a university cooperative largely depends on its ability to maximize the institution's substantial internal market potential.
"UGM has enormous internal market potential. Our guiding principle is to provide the best possible services while maintaining competitive and affordable pricing for UGM students, using regular benchmarking against modern retail networks," Paminto explained.
Drawing on insights from the consultation, the Mitra Denta Cooperative will be developed as an adaptive and inclusive business entity. In addition to meeting the university community's daily needs and supporting procurement management, the cooperative is intended to empower the campus economy and partner micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Looking ahead, the cooperative may expand into a variety of academic support services, including ticketing, event management, and daycare facilities to enhance the well-being of faculty members and administrative staff.
Concluding the discussion, Paminto emphasized that establishing and transforming a university cooperative requires the courage to initiate practical business ventures backed by strong leadership support. He recommended prioritizing services for the university community while simultaneously strengthening governance and management information systems.
Through this interfaculty collaboration, the Mitra Denta Cooperative is expected to accelerate the completion of its national legal entity status and contribute to building a resilient, modern, and community-oriented campus economic ecosystem.
Contributors: Annisa Dwi Noviyanti, Hazra Alifia Muharam
Photo: Fajar Budi Harsakti
Editor: Fajar Budi Harsakti
