Securing 1st Runner-Up at a Competition Hosted by Unsri, a Student from the Bangka Belitung State Manufacturing Polytechnic Expands Experience Through a Business Plan Competition
Three students from the Applied Bachelor’s Program in Digital Business at Polman Negeri Babel pose together, holding a trophy and a certificate of achievement, after securing 1st Runner-up in a Business Plan Competition organized by Sriwijaya University (Unsri).
Three students from the Digital Business Applied Bachelor’s degree program at the Bangka Belitung State Manufacturing Polytechnic (Polman Babel) participated in a Business Plan Competition (BPC) hosted by Sriwijaya University (Unsri) from October 9–11, 2026, where they secured the 1st runner-up (4th place) position in the renewable innovation category.
The three students—Mailan Dimayansyah, Ridho Okdiyantara, and Bahiir Abdurrahman Isran—competed alongside participants from various other higher education institutions, including Sriwijaya University (Unsri), Sriwijaya State Polytechnic (Polsri), Muhammadiyah University of Palembang, Bali State Polytechnic, Padang State University, STIPER Yogyakarta, Halu Oleo University, Semarang State University, the University of Bengkulu, and the University of Jambi.
When interviewed on Wednesday (October 21, 2026), Mailan Dimayansyah, a second-semester Digital Business student, explained that they first discovered the competition through a poster for the "Educational Economics Festival" organized by the Economics Student Association at Unsri. After submitting a proposal, the team was selected from 26 online applicants to be among the top 10 finalists, advancing to the in-person round of the competition.
Mailan noted that during the in-person stage, participants were required to create a poster and present their proposed business concepts. Although they achieved 4th place in the renewable innovation category, he believes there are several areas that need to be evaluated to ensure better results in future competitions.
“If there is another opportunity to participate in a competition, we will prepare a more thorough proposal—grounded in research and data—by incorporating the findings from our lecturers’ research as a reference for product development,” she added.
According to Mailan, the proposal-drafting process requires guidance and evaluation from lecturers from the very beginning, ensuring that the proposed concepts are optimally developed before reaching the assessment and presentation stages.
She further noted that the experience of participating in off-campus competitions serves as a valuable lesson for students, helping them continuously refine their skills—both in articulating ideas and in developing innovative business concepts.
“Even with a busy academic schedule, students should still take part in competitions; it’s a way to gain new experiences, hone practical skills, and foster personal growth,” she remarked.
She expressed her deep gratitude to Polman Babel for the knowledge, mentorship, and support provided, noting that the experience offered a unique chance to meet and learn from students at other institutions. She also encouraged her peers not to shy away from competing, emphasizing that Polman Babel is highly supportive of students who wish to take part in such events.
