SEBI School of Islamic Economics (STEI SEBI) recently held a Studium Generale focusing on the theme "Financial Management for the Youth and Building Investment Habits from an Early Age." The event took place at SEBI Hall, marking an important segment of the Campus Introduction Program (PROPEKA) for the 2024/2025 academic year.

Moderated by Lutfi Zulkarnain, S.Ag., M.E.Sy., a lecturer at STEI SEBI, the session featured two prominent speakers: Moehammad Abi Kurniawan, S.M., Assistant Operations Manager at PT. Pegadaian Area Bogor, and Dr. Ai Nur Bayinah, S.E.I., M.M., IFP, another esteemed faculty member.

Mr. Abi Kurniawan captivated the audience with his presentation titled "INVESTYLE: Smart Finances for a Smart Generation." He shed light on common financial pitfalls facing millennials, including FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and YOLO (You Only Live Once) mentalities, as well as a tendency to prioritize experience spending over investments. He cautioned that many young individuals often overlook essential needs in favor of credit or pay-later schemes.

To combat these issues, Abi Kurniawan suggested gold savings as a viable investment option for youth. "Gold offers high liquidity, moderate returns, and low risk," he stated, introducing Pegadaian's Gold Savings program as a strategic solution for students.

Dr. Ai Nur Bayinah followed with her discussion on "Financial Management for the Youth," presenting alarming statistics about Gen Z's financial habits. As of June 2024, online loans among this demographic reached a staggering 69 trillion, with 60% relying on fintech loans. Alarmingly, 31% of Gen Z members reported having no savings, while 69% of their expenditures were spent solely on food. Furthermore, 44% exhibited low financial literacy.

She encouraged students to recognize their immense potential and to harness it effectively. "Gen Z makes up 27.94% of the productive population and is poised to elevate Indonesia to the fourth-largest economy by 2045," she asserted.

The Studium Generale concluded with an engaging Q&A session, where attendees actively participated, raising questions and contributing to the dialogue. The event attracted 216 new undergraduate students, marking a promising start to their academic journey at STEI SEBI.