In every college or university, usually there is always a cooperative student or Kopma. Kopma generally provide and sell the needs of students so that, if the condition is recessive, they do not need to leave campus to buy their needs.

However, if that's all Kopma function? Is it still relevant today Kopma existence? What is the role Kopma for students? Can students become independent because they learn entrepreneurship through Kopma?

According to Ayesha Kahar, a student of Faculty of Law University of Indonesia, Depok, Kopma still relevant until now because of the role and function Kopma still very much needed student.

Kopma among others, could be a platform to develop students' ability to entrepreneurship. Another thing that Aisha feel is important, Kopma providing books and other student needs at a price relatively cheaper than elsewhere.

"I can not imagine if there were no Kopma. Of course, we as students will be hassle to find a variety of things. I feel the true benefits of Kopma, when I was a freshman, "he explained.

According to Ayesha, the cooperative is an enterprise system is the best. With cooperatives, students can obtain goods at a price that is relatively more affordable for students bag.

Anastasia Dewi Wulandari, a student of Japanese Literature Padjadjaran University, Bandung, said the existence Kopma very important for students to remember Kopma is the only carrier to produce entrepreneurs pengaderan professional.

Kopma is a place of learning process that will be able to provide experience for the students themselves. As a business institution with legal status, Kopma must be managed professionally and systematically.

Roles and functions

Goddess Fadhilah Soemanagara of Archaeological Studies Program Faculty of Cultural Sciences, University of Indonesia, Depok, stating, in the current era of modernization Kopma existence as a dim light among the billboards of the world economy.

Kopma as part of a cooperative should be able to continue to grow, helped strengthen the nation's economy. However, in most colleges, Kopma existence only as a convenience store that sells various needs of students, such as foods, stationery, and sales of computer rental services and such. Kopma only limited to "students cooperative", which is managed by, from, and for students. Without providing another function for the community.

Actually, the students played an important role in the development Kopma, not only for progress Kopma itself, but the application of Tri Dharma college. Of course, students will still need Kopma to meet the needs of the world's daily lecture, organizational experience, and increase potency.

"But, it would be better if Kopma also working with other partners and empower people's economy, for example, open membership cooperatives for the local community so that they can develop the potential and business. Moreover, community service is one of the obligations of students and Kopma can become a potential tool. Is not a student is part of the community? "Dewi said Fadhilah.

Kevin Lineria, students majoring in Communication Studies University of Indonesia said, Kopma still required and must be protected. Kopma help students get tuition purposes without much effort buying off campus, let alone the price is affordable.

In addition, students can also learn to do business or entrepreneurship. In Kopma, they learn about management and money management, marketing and promotion of a product.

Cooperative identity

Related to personal development of students, members of staff for Research and Cooperation Cooperative Student, Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, Fajar Kurniawan, say, Kopma so far only in one eye view by the general public.

In the public paradigm, Kopma only be understood as a business entity that runs the sale and purchase transactions to achieve the welfare of its members.

Shallow Kopma paradigm makes less familiar in the eyes of students. In fact, Kopma capable of being a crater candradimuka for students to strengthen the foundations of morality, given the world Kopma many moral values that can inspire young intellectuals such as university students.

Simply put, there are three main topics contained in the cooperative identity, namely understanding, principles and values of cooperatives. Very co-operative principles and values characteristic of morality. In the cooperative there are some important clauses, namely equality, democracy, justice, solidarity, honesty, openness, social responsibility, and caring.

Those values are not enough to just read or memorized, but needs to be understood and implemented. If the value of cooperation can be understood and implemented by young intellectuals, it is possible students will be the younger generation that intelligent and moral. Smart is not enough. Students who are intelligent without morals will be a provocateur who became the source of the problem.

Therefore, it is understood that the existence Kopma in the middle of the vortex of globalization is very effective to be a crater candradimuka for young intellectuals to strengthen the foundations of morality.

Kimura Patar Tamba, student Department of Mathematics, State University of Medan, said, Kopma be used by the student as a place to practice entrepreneurship. Many businesses that can be managed through Kopma student. Especially at this time should continue to develop the entrepreneurial spirit within the students through a variety of creative programs.

Hopefully, after graduating from college and understand the values Kopma, students can become more independent, have a spirit of entrepreneurship, can even create jobs at least for himself, and hopefully also provide employment opportunities for others around him. (Source: kompas.com)