History of the Study Program

The Department of Ship Systems Engineering at Hasanuddin University was officially granted permission to offer its Undergraduate (Bachelor's) Program in 2002 through the Decree of the Directorate General of Higher Education No. 2097/D/T/2002 dated October 20, 2002. The operational permit was subsequently renewed under Decree No. 3333/D/T/K-N/2009 dated August 31, 2009. Prior to becoming an independent study program, it operated as the Ship Machinery Sub-Program within the Department of Naval Architecture at Hasanuddin University, as stipulated in the Rector's Decree No. 4266/PT.04H/C/1995 dated April 24, 1995.

In response to the growing demand for professionals in ship systems engineering, the study program expanded its academic scope in 2007 by establishing two areas of specialization: Ship Machinery Engineering and Electrical and Control Engineering. In 2015, the Undergraduate Program in Ship Systems Engineering received an "A" (Excellent) accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Higher Education (BAN-PT) through Decree No. 502/SK/BAN-PT/Akred/S/V/2015, which remained valid until 2020.

As the program continued to develop, its curriculum and teaching instruments were regularly updated to meet industry demands. Curriculum evaluations and revisions are conducted every four years to ensure the quality of graduates and to address the evolving needs of government agencies and the maritime industry. Since 2016, the program has implemented a Higher Education Curriculum (KPT) aligned with the Indonesian National Qualifications Framework (KKNI). The curriculum consists of 144 credit units (SKS) and is designed to be completed within 6–8 semesters, with a maximum study period of 14 semesters. The teaching and learning process adopts a Student-Centered Learning (SCL) approach with a strong emphasis on Laboratory-Based Education (LBE).

In carrying out its academic mission, the study program admits an average of 40 new students each year, with a total enrollment of approximately 172 students in the 2015/2016 academic year. Academic activities are supported by 11 certified professional lecturers, including four doctoral (Ph.D.) holders and seven master's degree holders. In addition to teaching, the program continuously strengthens its research and community engagement activities in fulfilling the Tri Dharma of Higher Education, both in terms of quality and quantity.

To support research excellence, the Faculty of Engineering has established 11 laboratories equipped with modern research and testing facilities. These include laboratories specializing in ship hydrodynamics, marine machinery, electrical engineering, and control systems. Furthermore, several Laboratory-Based Education (LBE) research groups have been formed, comprising academic staff and senior undergraduate students. Numerous research projects funded by the Government of Indonesia and international collaborative partners have resulted in publications in international peer-reviewed journals indexed by Scopus.

To enhance graduates' competitiveness and professional quality, the study program actively supports students' co-curricular activities, particularly those aimed at developing leadership, teamwork, critical thinking, and creativity in accordance with their engineering competencies. Students regularly participate in prestigious national competitions, including the National Unmanned Fast Boat Contest (Kontes Kapal Cepat Tak Berawak Nasional) and the Student Creativity Program (Program Kreativitas Mahasiswa/PKM) organized by the Directorate General of Learning and Student Affairs of the Indonesian Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education.

To date, the Undergraduate Program in Ship Systems Engineering has graduated approximately 350 alumni with an average cumulative GPA of 3.00, many of whom are employed across Indonesia and Southeast Asia. In pursuit of becoming a world-class study program, the department continues to strengthen strategic partnerships with government institutions, industries, and universities, both domestically and internationally. These collaborations focus on faculty development through doctoral education, student exchange programs, joint research initiatives, and broader academic cooperation to support excellence in education, research, and community service.