Ludinata bin Misnun has empowered 81,635 students to launch 662 startups, transforming Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) into a global hub for entrepreneurship. As Deputy Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurial Development and Graduate Marketability (CEM UPM), he has driven 235 programs since 2020, nurturing 18,556 student and 1,089 graduate entrepreneurs. These ventures, backed by MYR 6,350,029 in funding, including 32 companies supported by investors, have spurred economic growth. His 15 incubators and 155 collaborations with industries, NGOs, and global universities amplify his impact. Ludinata’s “Dynamic-preneurship” model integrates IoT, with 44 agri-entrepreneurs producing over one ton of chili, earning first place in the 2022 Innovative Entrepreneur Competition. His 496 students in tech-driven programs launched 68 digital startups, while Edulab Zing game cards, adopted by ASEAN universities, redefine learning. His 9 international programs, including the 2023 Bali initiative, foster cross-cultural innovation, unlike narrower tech-focused models. Ludinata trained 205 educators, securing a 37% budget allocation for scalability. Inclusivity defines his work, mentoring 150 female founders, 100 indigenous entrepreneurs, and 5 students with disabilities. The Kampung Sungai Timun project empowered single mothers to commercialize crafts, boosting rural economies. With 23 awards, Ludinata’s vision for a 2026 Global Agri-Tech Hub will train students across ASEAN countries in precision farming, setting a global benchmark for entrepreneurship education that blends technology, inclusivity, and sustainability.
Finalist
Entrepreneurship Educator of the Year Award
Ludinata bin Misnun
Finalist Entrepreneurship Educator of the Year Award
UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA - Malaysia
"LUDI Sparks Agri-Tech, Ignites Inclusive Futures!"
Engage on social media
https://www.instagram.com/cem.upm/(Centre for Entrepreneurship Development and Graduate Employability (CEM) was established on January 25, 2013. Originally we are known as Entrepreneurship of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center Student Development and Career Placement Center)
https://www.facebook.com/CEM.UPM(Centre for Entrepreneurship Development and Graduate Employability (CEM) was established on January 25, 2013. Originally we are known as Entrepreneurship of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center Student Development and Career Placement Center)
Summary
Key People
DATO' PROFESSOR DR. AHMAD FARHAN MOHD. SADULLAH
VICE CHANCELLOR
UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA
PROF. DR. ARIFIN ABDU
DEPUTY VICE CHANCELLOR (STUDENT AFFAIRS & ALUMNI)
UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA
ASSOC. PROF. DR. HIZMAWATI MADZIN
DIRECTOR
CENTRE OF ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT AND GRADUATE MARKETABILITY,
UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA
MUHAMMAD HAFIDZ SHAHRIL IZWAN
STUDENT / STARTUPBIZ FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MHSI RESOURCE SDN. BHD. (PRIVATE LIMITED COMPANY)
FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE,
UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA
HOH JIA DA
FORMER STUDENT/ ICON OF TECHNO CREATION & NATIONAL YOUTH PRIMIER AWARD 2022
FACULTY OF COMPUTER SCIENCE & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY,
UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA
DATO' BRUCE LIM AUN CHOONG
MANAGING DIRECTOR
TVET AUSTRALASIA / TECNORIANT SDN. BHD. (PRIVATE LIMITED COMPANY)
Acknowledgements
To the esteemed UPM Management, your unwavering commitment to fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem has been my guiding light. Your vision has empowered me to transform aspirations into reality. Thank you for entrusting me to co-lead and innovate at the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development and Graduate Employability (CEM), aligning UPM with global repute.
To my vibrant UPM students, you are the heartbeat of LUDI. Your passion for entrepreneurial programs and triumphs in numerous Entrepreneurship Awards inspire me daily. Your creative ventures and brainstorming sessions fuel our shared dream of dynamic-preneurship. Thank you for daring to create.
To our invaluable industry partners, your support bridges academia and opportunity. Your collaboration in initiatives enriches our students’ journeys. Thank you for believing in our vision.
To the resilient communities, your partnership in Social Enterprise Community projects has woven entrepreneurship into the fabric of progress. Your trust amplifies our impact, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Thank you for embracing change.
Together, you’ve made LUDI a beacon of inspiration. My deepest gratitude for this shared legacy of transformation.
Feedback from the stakeholders:
(1)
"Initially, I believed that a stable ‘job’ was the ultimate success after graduation. However, through various entrepreneurial programs at CEM, I learned to shift my mindset and embrace becoming a student-entrepreneur. Today, I am proud to be running my own printing business, MHSI Resources, and I was honored to receive the 2023 Best Student Startup Company Award at the Ministry of Higher Education Entrepreneurship Award. This journey has truly opened my eyes to the endless possibilities beyond traditional employment."
— Muhammad Hafidz Shahril Izwan, Student/Managing Director, MHSI Resources PLC. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLXS0w2kaHc)
(2)
"Winning the Icon of Technological Innovation Award and the National Youth Premier Award 2022 has been a tremendous encouragement. Thanks to the guidance and positive influence of my mentor, Ludinata Misnun, I’ve learned the importance of perseverance, resilience, creativity, and courage in facing challenges. These values motivated me to venture into new ideas, such as creating a food ordering platform via the Xletrik app, developing Edulab, and designing educational card games to help B40 students improve their English literacy. This journey has taught me that with determination and innovation, I can overcome barriers and make a meaningful impact."
— Hoh Jia Da, Award Winner, Icon of Techno Creation & National Youth Premier Award 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paWqapVN7vQ
Images
Ludinata serves as a speaker in the Entrepreneurship Attribute Training of Trainers program for UPM lecturers, ensuring entrepreneurial attributes are effectively embedded in their lecture hall teaching.
Ludinata guides aspiring student entrepreneurs at UPM through the Siswapreneur Startupbiz Program, delivering impactful lessons on "Unleashing Self-Potential: Entrepreneurship as a Career Choice" to inspire and equip them for success.
Ludinata delivers a dynamic mentorship program, blending theoretical guidance with practical, hands-on field sessions, empowering UPM student entrepreneurs to successfully launch their Food & Beverage ventures.
Ludinata spearheads a vibrant mentorship program, seamlessly integrating theoretical insights with practical, hands-on field sessions, empowering UPM student entrepreneurs to successfully launch their Hair Stylist & Barber Shop ventures.
Ludinata acts as a judge in the Uni-Challenge Competition, evaluating students’ innovative food product ideas, fostering entrepreneurship through a dynamic partnership with the National Entrepreneurs Corporation (PUNB).
Ludinata led the Social Enterprise @Rural Community Programme at Kampung Sungai Timun, Rembau, Negeri Sembilan, involving 15 UPM students and 10 officers. This initiative empowers the local community by fostering business skills to commercialize small-scale industry (IKS) products. The program focuses on transferring entrepreneurial knowledge from students to villagers, supporting them in financial management, product packaging, and marketing. Three community entrepreneurs participated, engaging in ventures such as frozen food production, crop fertilizers, and restaurant operations. Through hands-on guidance, Ludinata’s leadership drives sustainable economic growth, equipping the Kampung Sungai Timun community with the tools to thrive in entrepreneurship.
Ludinata’s global vision connected UPM with Universitas Udayana, Bali (2023), fostering cross-cultural innovation.
Ludinata appeared as a guest on Radio Nasional FM, sharing insights on digital entrepreneurship to boost income for lower-income communities.
Ludinata’s Top Agropreneur Incubator Program engaged 30 students, yielding over one ton of chili through IoT-driven fertigation, exemplifying hands-on application of entrepreneurial skills for sustainable impact.
Through Ludinata’s dedicated mentorship, Muhammad Hafidz Shahrul Izwan achieved the prestigious 2023 Best Student Startup Company Award at the Ministry of Higher Education Entrepreneurship Award, showcasing the transformative impact of his guidance.
Ludinata’s transformative mentorship guided Hoh Jia Da to secure the prestigious Icon of Techno Creation and National Youth Premier Award 2022, highlighting his impactful role in nurturing innovative entrepreneurs.
Ludinata inspired approximately 5,000 new intake 2025/2026 UPM students through a vibrant lecture on Growth Mindset, igniting innovative entrepreneurial thinking and cultivating a culture of boundless potential.
Ludinata won the 2024 CLaPSA Project Grant, reinforcing his commitment to advancing entrepreneurship education at UPM through innovation and sustainable impact.
IMPACT STORY
Impacting lifes
Ludinata is a visionary educator transforming entrepreneurship education. Since 2020, Ludinata has transformed UPM into a global launchpad for job creators, engaging 81,635 students in 235 entrepreneurship and startup programs, resulting in 18,556 student entrepreneurs running businesses on campus and 1,089 graduate entrepreneurs sustaining ventures post-graduation. His leadership has catalyzed 662 officially registered startups, generating MYR 6,350,029 in funding and grants, with 32 companies securing support from seed investors, venture capitalists, and pitching competitions.
Ludinata’s Top Agropreneur Incubator Program, one of 15 student entrepreneurship incubators and cooperatives, empowers 44 agri-entrepreneurs to leverage IoT technologies, producing over 1 ton of chili annually. His 496 students in innovation and technology-based programs have launched 68 digitally driven startups, earning 23 national and international awards, including first place in the 2022 Innovative Entrepreneur Competition and Muhammad Hafidz Shahrul Izwan’s 2023 Best Student Startup Award. Ludinata’s Social Enterprise @Rural Community Programme at Sungai Timun Village uplifted 50 rural entrepreneurs, including single mothers, fostering socio-economic transformation.
As a certified Ministry of Human Resources Accredited Trainer and MARA Entrepreneur Consultant, Ludinata has trained 205 entrepreneurship educators through Train-the-Trainer programs, amplifying his impact across Malaysia and beyond. His 9 international entrepreneurship programs, including the 2023 Bali Career & Entrepreneurship Enhancement Program, and 155 collaborations with agencies, industries, NGOs, and global universities (e.g., Shell, MTDC) provide unparalleled networks.
Ludinata’s inclusive approach ensures accessibility, mentoring 150 female founders, 100 indigenous entrepreneurs, and 5 students with disabilities thriving in entrepreneurship programs. His 37% operating budget allocation for entrepreneurship, secured through UPM’s 2013 Entrepreneurship Policy, ensures systemic support. Ludinata’s scalable model, blending technology, mentorship, and global partnerships, raises a bold question: how far can his vision reshape entrepreneurship education? With unmatched impact, innovation, and inclusivity, Ludinata is not just teaching entrepreneurship—he is igniting a global movement to empower future generations.
LEARNINGS
Lessons learned
The key lessons from my journey as an entrepreneurship educator, particularly as Deputy Director of UPM’s CEM, revolve around igniting passion and impact through practical, inclusive, and adaptive strategies:
(1) Create Hands-On Learning Opportunities
If you want to truly inspire growth, focus on designing practical experiences that bring theory to life. Encourage your team to experiment, learn from failures, and innovate by working on projects that address real-world problems. This hands-on approach not only sparks creativity but also builds resilience and confidence.
(2) Foster Inclusive Collaboration
Build a culture where everyone's voice is valued. Reach out and collaborate with diverse stakeholders—industry partners, local communities, or even international institutions like Universitas Udayana. Together, you can create ecosystems that support shared goals and maximize impact, making everyone feel part of the journey.
(3) Stay Adaptive with Your Strategic Vision
Keep your long-term goals in mind, but be flexible. Align your vision with national plans and be ready to pivot or reallocate resources as needed. Staying adaptable allows you to seize new opportunities and ensures your efforts lead to sustainable success over time.
FUTURE PLANS
What's coming?
In 2016, UPM won the MOHE Entrepreneurial Award (AKKPT). To build on this success, we aim to revitalize our entrepreneurial attributes program in line with the National Higher Education Development Plan (2025-2035). We will foster a culture of innovation, excellence, and entrepreneurship by leveraging digital platforms to reach more students. Strategic partnerships with industry, government, and alumni will enhance mentorship, funding, and resource sharing. Integrating advanced technologies and cultivating collaborative networks will empower students as job creators, driving socio-economic impact. This renewed vision positions UPM as a leader in entrepreneurship education, ready to reclaim the AKKPT award through inclusive and transformative initiatives.
We also plan to expand our entrepreneurial ecosystem by supporting more student startups through targeted incubation, mentorship, and industry collaborations, providing real-world projects, funding, and internship opportunities.
Although entrepreneurial attributes are embedded in our curriculum, we seek to further empower educators with additional training and innovative teaching methods to enhance students’ resilience, creativity, and adaptability in a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous) world.
Additionally, we will focus on professional development for lecturers to embed entrepreneurial thinking across disciplines and promote research in social entrepreneurship aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Regular impact assessments will ensure our initiatives remain effective, sustainable, and aligned with national development goals.
