Development Economics is a branch of Economics Science, explicitly studying the problems of industrial development, banking, finance, and business.
Students of the program will grow an exceeding skill with the analysis of various economic issues to find and resolve solutions to various economic problems critically, creatively, and innovatively. This study program equips students to become planners in the field of economic development so that they can help create common welfare.
According to Quipper Indonesia, an online learning platform, there are at least more than one hundred and six campuses that offer economics study courses to the high school leavers who wish to continue their studies to a higher level. Thirty-seven of them scattered in Jakarta, West Java, and Banten.
The Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia (AJCUI) is one of few to offer the Development Economics study program. Located in the capital, at the heart of the economy and the Indonesian government, AJCUI with this program strives to provide more value for students and academics to interact with financial industry players and decision-makers directly.
Atma Jaya Faculty of Economics’s contribution to Indonesia
In the 60th year of Atma Jaya, the Development Economics Study Program offers a curriculum that promotes the birth of financial analysts needed for the future. These days, when talking about economic principles, we are no longer talking about the smallest capital and maximum profit. The financial industry can no longer be run “as business as usual.” Financial automation, artificial intelligence (AI), cryptocurrency, and the emergence of financial technology companies (fintech) as disruption in the financial industry enables transformative development.
On the other hand, public attention and concern over global issues such as health, education, economic equality, environment, gender equality, protection of minorities are inseparable from all industries today, including finance.
It is one of the reasons for the development economic program of the Faculty of Economics and Business, adding to their curriculum, courses on sustainable development goals (SDGs), particularly regarding economic growth and productivity through improving the quality of technology and innovation.
“We want to support inclusive and sustainable economic growth, by enriching the curriculum of the development economic study program, this is our contribution to society and the nation,” said Dr. Irenius Dwinanto Bimo, SE., M.Sc., the dean of the Faculty of Economics.
He adds, “Following the vision of the founding fathers of the university, it is our responsibility to help provide human resources who are concerned about SDGs issues and can apply the goals at the program level, industry implementation, and financial policy.”
The agenda of sustainable development goals (SDGs) itself adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 as a joint call to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.
Development Economics and Social Impact
Attention over SDGs seemingly increased among business players; the trend is illustrated in the 2018 KPMG study. The study showed that 40% of 250 giant companies in the world included SDGs as one of their business strategies.
Soon, to achieve SDGs No. 8 about the decent work and economic growth, then the policy analyst, including financial planner of a sector, region, government, banking, is a very promising career.
“Our focus is to encourage students to master financial analysis for human development in the future. For instance, in the banking field, who has the right to ask for a loan for business? Fintech, which grew rapidly, strongly supports the direction of innovative lending and borrowing movements with crowdsourcing,” said Head of the Development Economics Study Program, Dr. F.X. Adji Pratikto, S.E., M.E.
“This is the role of higher education institutions for the society, and by implementing this curriculum not only responds to the policy of Kampus Merdeka but moreover to contributes in solving social issues per our knowledge,” concludes Pratikto.
Students are encouraged to master the ability of financial analysis amid Fintech’s rapid growth in the world. The growth characterized by innovative lending and borrowing movements with crowdsourcing, the digital age funding concept. For this understanding, the ability to analyze financial policies in multisector s a very promising profession to support the achievement of SDGs.
Atma Jaya Development Economics Study Program provides an in-depth understanding of the subject and financial analytical skills in the future.