Sobat Ceria UMS Takes Third Place at KMI Expo 2025

The Sobat Ceria team, students of the Early Childhood Education Teacher Education (PG-PAUD) Program at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) once again brought pride to their alma mater by winning 3rd Place in the Business Services, Tourism, and Trade category at the Kewirausahaan Mahasiswa Indonesia (KMI) Expo XVI 2025 held at Universitas Tidar (UNTIDAR), Magelang, 19–21 November 2025.

This prestigious national event, which involved 265 universities and 475 P2MW business groups, proves that UMS’s innovations in early childhood education are capable of competing at the national level and providing real benefits to society.

The leader of Sobat Ceria, Deswita Winna, stated that the innovation was born from a desire to create social value.

“We believe that a business must bring social benefits. Inclusive education is the right of every child. Through Sobat Ceria, we aim to provide a safe and stimulating space for every child to grow and be happy,” said Deswita, Saturday (22/11/2025).

In the competition, she continued, Sobat Ceria presented its early childhood stimulation services based on play-based learning, mindfulness, and family collaboration. This relevant and sustainability-oriented concept impressed the judges during the pitching session and the assessment at the expo booth.

“Sobat Ceria stands as an inclusive education service unit with a mindfulness approach and family co-creation. This program offers developmental stimulation classes for early childhood learners, including children with special needs, through the integration of mindfulness, digital literacy, character education, and the STEAM approach,” she explained.

Active collaboration among children, parents, and facilitators serves as the core strength of Sobat Ceria, ensuring that every child receives support tailored to their academic, social, emotional, and physical developmental needs.

This achievement cannot be separated from the contribution of the Directorate of Student Affairs and Talent–Innovation Development (DKPTI) UMS, which provided intensive guidance, training, and P2MW funding facilitation. Sobat Ceria’s participation in the KMI Expo XVI stands as concrete proof of UMS’s commitment to nurturing young entrepreneurs who are innovative, solution-driven, and socially conscious.

Sobat Ceria was represented by Deswita Winna Irshandy (PG-PAUD), Hilyatul Millah (PG-PAUD), Fatimah Azzuhroh (PG-PAUD), Meisya Haya Anaswa (PG-PAUD), and Sofyan Endra Prasetyo (Digital Business).

The team was supervised by Dr. Choiriyah Widyasari, S.Psi., M.Psi., and received business mentoring from Agustina Widianti, S.Pd.

This achievement proves that the issue of inclusive education can be developed into a competitive business model, not merely a social service.

Choiriyah Widyasari expressed her pride in the accomplishments of her mentees.

“This achievement is proof that PG-PAUD UMS students have tremendous potential to innovate and create change. I hope Sobat Ceria continues to grow into an inclusive learning space that brings widespread benefits,” she said.

She also emphasized the importance of collaboration and business sustainability as strategic steps moving forward.

“This accomplishment is a great source of pride for the PG-PAUD UMS Program and underscores the role of DKPTI UMS in nurturing highly creative students with social awareness, ready to become agents of change in advancing education in Indonesia,” she asserted.

Choiriyah added that the Sobat Ceria team demonstrates that early childhood education students also have ample room to innovate and contribute strategically through socially driven business solutions. “Congratulations to the Sobat Ceria team on this remarkable achievement,” she concluded.

Writer: Fika Annisa’ Sholihah

Editor: Maysali Sudarwati

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid