Strengthening the Vision of a Maritime Continent, Dozens of Unhas Marine Engineering Graduates Officially Graduate: Ready to Address Marine Infrastructure Challenges

[MAKASSAR], December 17-18, 2025 – The Baruga A.P. Pettarani Building at Hasanuddin University (Unhas) once again witnessed the birth of new intellectuals. The third graduation ceremony for the 2025/2026 Academic Year, held today, focused on the graduates from the Faculty of Engineering, particularly the Department of Ocean Engineering, who officially received their Bachelor of Engineering (S.T.) degrees.

The graduation of these young ocean engineers is a strategic moment, given Unhas's self-proclaimed position as a center for maritime culture development and the "Indonesian Maritime Continent." The Ocean Engineering graduates were inaugurated and ready to enter the professional world to address the increasingly complex challenges of maritime infrastructure.

The graduation of these young marine engineers is a strategic moment, considering Unhas's self-proclaimed position as a center for maritime culture development and the "Indonesian Maritime Continent." The Marine Engineering graduates were inaugurated and ready to enter the professional world to address the increasingly complex challenges of maritime infrastructure.

Research Innovation Based on Real-Life Problems

The Rector of Hasanuddin University, in his welcoming speech, emphasized that Unhas' Marine Engineering graduates play a vital role in national development.

"Indonesia is the largest archipelagic country. We need engineers who not only understand theory on paper, but also understand the unique characteristics of our oceans. Today's Unhas Marine Engineering graduates are the answer to the need for engineers capable of designing offshore structures, ports, and marine-based renewable energy," the Rector emphasized, greeted by thunderous applause from thousands of attendees.

The quality of this year's graduates was evident in the diverse topics of their final projects, which were highly relevant to current issues. One of the top graduates from the Department of Marine Engineering, Ashabul Kaffi, graduated with honors (GPA 3.3). Ashabul raised research on "Determining the Timing of Dredging Implementation to Mitigate the Potential for Ships Running aground During the Floating Repair Process at the North Peninsula Pier".

"We are educated at Unhas' Ocean Engineering Department not only to calculate wave loads or design oil platforms, but also to provide technical solutions for coastal communities. I hope this final project can be implemented by the local government," said Kaffi when met after the graduation ceremony.

Ready to Compete on the Global Stage

The Head of the Unhas Ocean Engineering Department also expressed his pride. According to him, the current curriculum meets international standards and is accredited as superior. The graduates are equipped with the latest technical software skills and a deep understanding of the dynamics of deep-sea structures.

"The maritime industry is shifting. While the focus was previously solely on oil and gas, now the direction is toward offshore wind energy and maritime toll infrastructure. Our graduates are ready for this transition. In fact, three of today's graduates have already been accepted to work at multinational companies in Batam and Kalimantan before their diplomas were even issued," he said.

Emotional Atmosphere at Baruga

The atmosphere of emotion was unavoidable as the "Unhas Hymn" played. The graduates, dressed in togas and proudly wrapped in sashes, embraced their parents. The long journey from the Gowa campus, the late nights working on structural models, and the challenges of the practicum at sea had finally paid off.

These "Engineering Kids" have now left their student status. Armed with diplomas from one of the best universities in Eastern Indonesia, they now shoulder a significant responsibility. They not only want to build their own careers, but also to prove that Makassar produces strong marine engineers ready to safeguard the sovereignty of the archipelago's maritime infrastructure.

The clear Makassar sky this afternoon seemed to bless their journey to navigate the real ocean of life.