Advancing an Impact-Driven FT Unhas: Strengthening the Engineering Ecosystem in Eastern Indonesia through Support for FST Undana’s Professional Engineer Program
The Faculty of Engineering, Hasanuddin University (FT Unhas), continues to strengthen its role as a driving force and a leading reference center for the development of engineering education in Eastern Indonesia. As a concrete manifestation of its “FT Unhas Berdampak” (FT Unhas Making an Impact) commitment to strengthening the national engineering ecosystem, FT Unhas has officially established a strategic partnership with the Faculty of Science and Engineering, Nusa Cendana University (FST Undana) in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara.
The partnership was marked by the signing of a Cooperation Agreement (PKS) concerning the implementation of the Professional Engineer Program Study Program (PS PPI), as well as a benchmarking and mentoring program to support the establishment of PS PPI at FST Undana. This strategic series of activities was held over two days, Tuesday and Wednesday, July 7–8, 2026, at the Hasanuddin University Faculty of Engineering Campus in Gowa.
Acting Dean of FST Undana, Prof. Philiphi de Rozari, S.Si., M.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D., personally led the delegation from the “Land of Cendana.” The delegation was warmly and officially welcomed by the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Hasanuddin University, Prof. Dr. Eng. Ir. Muhammad Isran Ramli, S.T., M.T., IPM., AER., accompanied by the faculty leadership team and the management of the FT Unhas Professional Engineer Program Study Program (PS PPI).
The signing of the Cooperation Agreement serves as the legal framework and operational foundation for both institutions to accelerate the establishment and strengthening of PS PPI at FST Undana. Under the three-year agreement, FT Unhas has committed to providing comprehensive assistance to FST Undana, covering institutional strengthening, the development of participant guidelines, guidance on the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) mechanism, provision of lecturers holding the Intermediate Professional Engineer (IPM) qualification, and the establishment of engineer graduation criteria.
Dean of FT Unhas, Prof. Dr. Eng. Ir. Muhammad Isran Ramli, S.T., M.T., IPM., AER., emphasized that the partnership represents a tangible implementation of FT Unhas’s moral and academic responsibility to create a positive impact on human resource development in Indonesia.
“As a higher education institution with extensive experience and an established reputation in managing Professional Engineer Programs, FT Unhas feels called upon to walk side by side with our fellow institution in Eastern Indonesia. Supporting the establishment of PS PPI at FST Undana is a concrete manifestation of the spirit of ‘FT Unhas Berdampak,’ through which the innovations and quality standards we have developed can be scaled up and extended more broadly,” Prof. Isran Ramli emphasized.
Entering the benchmarking and substantive mentoring session, the main materials were comprehensively presented by Dr. Eng. Ir. Ilham Bakri, S.T., M.Sc., IPM., ASEAN.Eng. In his presentation, Dr. Ilham elaborated on the tactical roadmap for establishing PS PPI, covering the development of an Outcome-Based Education (OBE)-based curriculum, academic governance strategies, and the preparation of engineering portfolios for prospective participants.
The discussion also highlighted the importance of overseeing the Internal Quality Assurance System (SPMI), which is implemented through the PPEPP cycle—Determination, Implementation, Evaluation, Control, and Improvement. The integration of SPMI is intended to ensure that the professional program at FST Undana can operate directly with high, transparent, and measurable quality standards from its first cohort.
Meanwhile, Acting Dean of FST Undana, Prof. Philiphi de Rozari, S.Si., M.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D., expressed his deep appreciation and gratitude for the full support provided by FT Unhas.
“The support, guidance, and in-depth mentoring from FT Unhas provide a very strong foundation for FST Undana to accelerate the establishment of PS PPI. We are optimistic that the establishment of PS PPI at FST Undana will not only address the need for engineering certification in East Nusa Tenggara but also serve as an accelerator for infrastructure development and the management of the region’s potential,” Prof. Philiphi stated.
This partnership and mentoring program serve as concrete evidence of FT Unhas’s commitment to providing inspiring academic leadership. The establishment of an independent Professional Engineer Program at Nusa Cendana University, supported by FT Unhas, is projected to make a significant contribution to increasing the number of certified engineers in island and border regions, ultimately having a direct impact on the quality of physical development and the welfare of local communities.
The two-day series of activities concluded with a tour of the learning support facilities at FT Unhas, a focused discussion session among program managers, and an exchange of souvenirs as a symbol of continued synergy and sustainable partnership.