SBM ITB x Shibaura Institute of Technology Organized Problem-Based Learning: SME Innovation in the Big Data Era

Bandung, March 6, 2020 — The digital era has transformed nearly every aspect of our lives. To face this era, digital competencies are essential. Moreover, the rise of data collection and processing technology has pushed business and social science into a new frontier: data analytics and simulation.

In collaboration with Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT), SBM ITB organized Problem-Based Learning (PBL) under the theme SME Innovation in Big Data Era from February 12–20, 2020, at the SBM ITB Bandung Campus.

The event was opened by Dr. Eng. Manahan Siallagan from the Big Data and Business Analytics Laboratory SBM ITB. He stated that this collaboration marked a new journey in showing how big data can help people and their businesses.

24 Students, 6 Groups, and 6 Bandung SMEs
The program was attended by 12 students from SBM ITB and 12 students from SIT. All students were divided into six groups, each consisting of two SBM ITB students and two SIT students.

Each group was assigned to observe an SME in Bandung and provide possible solutions to its problems. The SMEs involved were:

Karoeng.id

Koku Footwear

Sankimo

Rosmala Syari

Maraya Scraf

Alma Salon

All SMEs are located in Bandung and operate in different fields, such as fashion, craft, shoes, and beauty.

From SME Visits to Solution Presentations
On the first day, each team chose one SME they were interested in helping. After that, the team visited the SME’s store and brainstormed with the owner about the problems they faced.

The next day, students analyzed the problems, presented them in front of lecturers, and received feedback to improve their solutions. For almost a week, lecturers from SBM ITB and SIT gave feedback to help students refine their proposals.

Learning RStudio and Data Analytics for SMEs
Students also received a lecture from Dr. Manahan about RStudio, a tool for analyzing data. This session gave students deeper insights into data inputs and how data can be processed into useful information.

In addition, students joined a workshop themed “Indonesia Big Data for MSME 2020” at the SBM ITB Auditorium. This workshop strengthened the connection between big data, SMEs, and business analytics.

Impact on Students and SMEs
This program aimed to establish cooperation with several institutions/colleges abroad and SME owners in Bandung. For participants, the benefit was hands-on experience in solving real cases from SMEs in Indonesia, especially Bandung.

Students learned how data is collected, processed, and analyzed using data analytics or simulation. This activity helped them understand how big data is applied in real business contexts.

SME owners also benefited from the program. The founder of Maraya Scraf said:

“I got a lot of insight from the presentation and I think so many good ideas can be implemented in my business.”

The statement was made on the final presentation day, which was also a farewell event with SIT students.