INDONESIA–THAILAND COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM: EMPOWERING SMES THROUGH SUSTAINABLE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND DIGITAL LITERACY

Abstract

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play a crucial role in economic growth, employment creation, and social development in ASEAN countries, including Indonesia and Thailand. Despite their importance, many SMEs continue to experience challenges related to weak financial management practices and limited digital financial literacy. This international community service program was implemented as a collaborative initiative between Indonesian and Thai academics to empower SMEs through sustainable financial management and digital literacy training.

The program applied a participatory and practice-based approach through workshops, hands-on financial exercises, digital finance simulations, and mentoring sessions. Training topics included basic bookkeeping, separation of personal and business finances, cash flow management, pricing strategies, digital financial tools, and sustainable financial practices. The results indicate improvements in participants’ financial understanding, adoption of digital financial tools, and awareness of business sustainability. This program demonstrates that cross-country community service collaboration can effectively strengthen SME financial capacity while supporting ASEAN academic cooperation and sustainable development goals.

Keywords: SMEs, community service, financial literacy, sustainable finance, digital literacy, Indonesia–Thailand collaboration