kopmas

Kopmas, short for Koperasi Mahasiswa, are student cooperatives operating on Indonesian university campuses. They are part of the wider cooperative movement and are organized to provide financial services and business opportunities to students, while promoting cooperative principles such as voluntary and open membership, democratic control, and concern for the community.

Each Kopma is governed by a General Assembly and an elected management board, typically including a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. Decision making occurs through regular meetings and annual elections. Membership is usually open to enrolled students and, in some cases, university staff or alumni; members contribute savings and may borrow from the Kopma's credit fund.

Core activities include savings and loan programs, microfinance, and revenue-generating operations such as campus shops, cafeterias, printing services, bookstores, or service centers. Kopmas also run training programs on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, governance, and cooperative values, and support student projects through lightweight funding schemes.

Kopmas originated within the Indonesian cooperative movement and expanded across campuses in the late 20th century, with some national coordination through umbrella networks or federations. They are typically regulated by national cooperatives law and campus regulations, and often maintain partnerships with university administration and local cooperative associations.

Impact and challenges: Kopmas provide practical financial inclusion and business experience for students and may contribute to campus life and student entrepreneurship. Challenges include capital constraints, governance risk, turnover of student leaders, and the need for professional management, financial controls, and external oversight.