A Synergy between Universities and Corporations, Enhancing Social Responsibility

CSR basically is not a demand, nor just a program to support a company, but rather an investment being done for the sake of a company itself, explained Maria Radyati, Ph.D ? a lecturer on the Management Master Program (MM) ? CSR Universitas Trisakti.  

She stated the importance of CSR, in which all people are supposed to take part, and university as a multidiscipline?s institution in the community development should play a role as a mediator between companies and stakeholders. ?To give is to receive?,  a paradox given by Maria Radyati in trying to explain further about things that were needed to be done by companies in their future.

The statement was delivered at The 1st Nasional Symposium of PkM & Community Service Relations, on Thursday,5  August 2010, at UPH campus. The symposium  was held by Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH) in cooperations with KADIN of Banten province and the Banten government, in several paper presentations.

This symposium was supported by several companies which have been running CSR programs, such as PT Unilever, PT Indocement Tbk., PT Sinar Mas, PT Matahari Putra Prima Tbk., and PT Krakatau Steel. There were also representatives from the other universities?  Research & Community Centers (LPPM ? Lembaga Penelitian dan Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat), among others are Universitas Indonesia, Universitas Trisakti, Universitas Atmajaya Jogjakarta and Jakarta, Institut Pertanian Bogor, and many other participants both from univeristies as well as companies.

The program was supposed to be opened by Hj. Ratu Atut Chosiyah as the Banten Governor, but because of another program at Bogor palace, Ir. Hj. Muhadi MSP opened the program as the governor?s representative. In the speech he mentioned his support on this National Symposium, because CSR is proven to be very supportive to the existence of an institution.

Mr. Muhadi also mentioned several CSR projects which are under the government?s cooperation with several companies in Banten, such as Krakatau Steel and PLN (State Electricity Company),  which have been proven to be very supportive towards the Banten region and community?s development.

On that occasion, Mr. Muhadi extended a special message from Banten Governor ? Hj. Ratu Atut Chosiyah about  financial aids for the synergy of local government, companies, and universities in executing the CSR as well as Community Service programs. As an addition to that, the Governor would also grant scholarships for the Master and Doctoral Programs for 2 candidates each, studying at UPH.

Meanwhile, in the other room, there were also exhibitons of community services, and CSR from various institutions. There were kindergarten students of TK Al-Alam from Desa Teluk Naga which have been UPH?s community service project all this time.

In the symposium, Unilever which has been in Indonesian community since 1993 has proven its existence in the humanities projects, such as aids on basic human needs, farming, environment, and all kinds of programs to support healthy Indonesia.

?Doing great by doing good ? by relevations, models, partnerships, and applications ? then PT Unilever which started with only 7 farmers has now been partnering with 7000 farmers. There have been tremendous CSR programs being done, and everything should be done step by step,? explained Sinta Kurniawati as the General Manager of PT Unilever Indonesia.

This symposium was held with the purpose of achieving better cooperations between one company with another, with deeper discussions, so that certain forms of long term investment Community Services will be realized. (ros/oas)

?

UPH Media Relations