The involvement of an international examiner in the open dissertation defense of the Doctoral Program in Management Science (DIM) at Universitas Tarumanagara (Untar) represents the implementation of the university’s internationalization efforts. Handojo Wibawanto Soetikno successfully defended his dissertation titled “Factors Influencing the Decision to Pursue Digital Entrepreneurship among Female Micro and Small Business Owners in Solo City” during the open doctoral examination on Friday (06/20/2025) at Untar’s Campus I.
Prof. Ferry Jie, Ph.D., FCILT, FCES., an external examiner from Edith Cowan University, Australia, expressed his appreciation for the research topic. He also emphasized the importance of research depth, recommending further data exploration and a larger sample size to yield more comprehensive results that could contribute to internationally reputable scientific journals.
Question by Prof. Ferry Jie, Ph.D., FCILT, FCES, from Edith Cowan University, Australia
During the defense, it was conveyed that female entrepreneurship in Indonesia has seen rapid growth, driven by increasing awareness of women’s empowerment in the economic and social spheres. This rise in female participation in entrepreneurship has been supported by various initiatives from the government, NGOs, and the private sector. Training programs, access to capital, and business networks have opened up greater opportunities for women to start and grow their businesses, especially when supported by digital technology. The newly awarded doctorate also noted that the dissertation supports the achievement of gender equality, which is Goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), through the empowerment of women in micro and small enterprises. However, he acknowledged that local cultural factors could influence the success of women-led businesses. In Solo, patriarchal culture still dominates, where men hold primary power and dominate in various aspects of life—economic, social, and political—which can affect the sustainability of businesses managed by women.
Dissertation Presentation by Handojo Wibawanto Soetikno
Defending his dissertation before a panel of examiners—which included Chair of the Session Prof. Dr. Ir. Agustinus Purna Irawan, M.T., M.M., IPU., A.E. (Director of the Postgraduate Program at Untar), Prof. Dr. Haris Maupa, S.E., M.Si. (Head of the DIM Program and main advisor), Dr. Hadi Cahyadi, S.E., M.B.A. (co-advisor), Prof. Ferry Jie, PhD (external examiner from Edith Cowan University, Australia), Dr. Indra Widjaja, S.E., M.M., and Dr. Cokki, S.E., M.M.—was a remarkable experience for Handojo as a practitioner. The open defense was presided over by Untar’s Rector, Prof. Dr. Amad Sudiro, S.H., M.H., M.Kn., M.M.
Handojo Wibawanto Soetikno was declared to have passed with distinction, earning a cum laude honor (GPA 4.00), becoming the 17th graduate of Untar’s Doctoral Program in Management Science.