MAKASSAR – The Faculty of Engineering (FT) of the Muhammadiyah University (Unismuh) in Makassar successfully held a Community Service Program (PPM) focused on the application of sustainable appropriate technology. The event took place last weekend, precisely on May 20-21, 2024, in Bonto Marannu Village, Gowa Regency. This initiative aimed to empower the village community through innovative technological solutions, while also applying relevant scientific knowledge to meet community needs.

Innovation for Village Independence

In this PPM program, the Faculty of Engineering Unismuh team, consisting of lecturers and students experts in various fields of engineering, introduced several innovations. These included a simple clean water filtration system that is easy to operate and maintain by residents, as well as the installation of small-scale solar panels for public lighting in several village facilities. In addition, a workshop on processing organic waste into compost was also held, involving the active participation of village PKK mothers.

"We believe that technology is not only for large industries, but also must be able to touch and improve the quality of life of communities at the grassroots level. Bonto Marannu Village has great potential, and we are here to provide tools and knowledge so that they can be more independent," said Dr. Ir. Amiruddin, M.Eng., Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Unismuh Makassar, when opening the event.

Real Impact and Future Hope

The response from the community of Bonto Marannu Village was very positive. The Head of Bonto Marannu Village, Mr. Syamsul Bahri, expressed his gratitude for the program that had been implemented. "The presence of the lecturers and students from the Faculty of Engineering Unismuh is very meaningful to us. Clean water is now more easily accessible, street lighting is also assisted, and we now know how to manage waste into something useful," he said enthusiastically.

The impact of this program is expected to be sustainable, with training and assistance that will be carried out regularly. The Faculty of Engineering Unismuh is committed to not only stopping at the implementation stage, but also ensuring the transfer of knowledge and skills to the community so that the introduced innovations can continue to be utilized and developed independently. This program is real evidence of the commitment to the Three Pillars of Higher Education held firmly by Unismuh Makassar.