As part of the Kampus Merdeka Competition Program (PKKM), two lecturers from the Department of Food and Agricultural Product Technology (TPHP) at Universitas Gadjah Mada, Dr. Widiastuti Setyaningsih, S.T.P., M.Sc., and Dr. Rini Yanti, S.T.P., M.P., conducted an industrial internship in Makassar from July 14–20, 2024. This program aimed to identify real-world conditions and gather insights into various challenges in the industrial sector, which could serve as valuable discussion and evaluation materials for students.
Visit to PT Bantimurung Indah (July 15, 2024)
PT Bantimurung Indah became the first destination, a company that had just resumed operations after a one-year hiatus due to market competition. The lecturers observed the processing of seaweed into dried carrageenan. During this visit, some of the issues were identified, including the instability in the gel strength of raw materials from farmers and the inconsistency between production batches. In line with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), a collaborative plan was agreed upon: PT Bantimurung would produce the data from the production process, and TPHP UGM would assist in developing a method to estimate gel strength.
Visit to MSMEs Producing Passion Fruit Syrup and Seaweed-Based Products (July 16, 2024)
The lecturers also visited small and medium enterprises (SMEs) operating in shared facilities and producing various food products. A key issue observed was uneven drying in seaweed candy, which impacted production efficiency. Additionally, the passion fruit syrup producers faced challenges with seasonal raw material availability and inconsistent carrageenan quality. These visits aligned with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
Visit to Takalar and PT Jasuda (July 17–18, 2024)
In Takalar, the lecturers visited a seaweed cultivation site and held discussions on halal certification, supporting SDG 14 (Life Below Water). At PT Jasuda, they deepened their understanding of seaweed-based products. The visit also included a collaborative session with researchers at Hasanuddin University, strengthening academic–industry synergy.
Evaluation and Discussion (July 19, 2024)
The activities concluded with a review of the visits and discussions on how to apply the findings within the industry. This initiative contributes to improving education quality by integrating industrial insights into the curriculum, in line with SDG 4 (Quality Education).
Returning to Yogyakarta on July 20, 2024, the lecturers brought back valuable insights and actionable plans expected to support the sustainable development of both education and industry.
As part of the Kampus Merdeka Competition Program (PKKM), two lecturers from the Department of Food and Agricultural Product Technology (TPHP) at Universitas Gadjah Mada, Dr. Widiastuti Setyaningsih, S.T.P., M.Sc., and Dr. Rini Yanti, S.T.P., M.P., conducted an industrial internship in Makassar from July 14–20, 2024. This program aimed to identify real-world conditions and gather insights into various challenges in the industrial sector, which could serve as valuable discussion and evaluation materials for students.
Visit to PT Bantimurung Indah (July 15, 2024)
PT Bantimurung Indah became the first destination, a company that had just resumed operations after a one-year hiatus due to market competition. The lecturers observed the processing of seaweed into dried carrageenan. During this visit, some of the issues were identified, including the instability in the gel strength of raw materials from farmers and the inconsistency between production batches. In line with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), a collaborative plan was agreed upon: PT Bantimurung would produce the data from the production process, and TPHP UGM would assist in developing a method to estimate gel strength.
Visit to MSMEs Producing Passion Fruit Syrup and Seaweed-Based Products (July 16, 2024)
The lecturers also visited small and medium enterprises (SMEs) operating in shared facilities and producing various food products. A key issue observed was uneven drying in seaweed candy, which impacted production efficiency. Additionally, the passion fruit syrup producers faced challenges with seasonal raw material availability and inconsistent carrageenan quality. These visits aligned with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
Visit to Takalar and PT Jasuda (July 17–18, 2024)
In Takalar, the lecturers visited a seaweed cultivation site and held discussions on halal certification, supporting SDG 14 (Life Below Water). At PT Jasuda, they deepened their understanding of seaweed-based products. The visit also included a collaborative session with researchers at Hasanuddin University, strengthening academic–industry synergy.
Evaluation and Discussion (July 19, 2024)
The activities concluded with a review of the visits and discussions on how to apply the findings within the industry. This initiative contributes to improving education quality by integrating industrial insights into the curriculum, in line with SDG 4 (Quality Education).
Returning to Yogyakarta on July 20, 2024, the lecturers brought back valuable insights and actionable plans expected to support the sustainable development of both education and industry.
Written by: Firstnandita Keisha