As part of IKA FIKP, Prof. Jamaluddin Jompa expressed hope that alumni would open opportunities to utilize marine and fisheries potential spread across South Sulawesi and other regions.
MARITIMEPOSTS.COM – The Rector of Universitas Hasanuddin, Jamaluddin Jompa, took part in enlivening the Working Meeting of the Alumni Association of the Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries (IKA FIKP) Universitas Hasanuddin, held at Hotel Aston Makassar on Saturday (April 18).
The Rector’s presence was in response to requests from several alumni for him to share strategic perspectives on the direction and contribution of IKA FIKP to the alma mater and the broader community.
In line with these expectations, the Unhas Professor of Marine Science specializing in coral reef ecology emphasized two main priorities that should become the future focus of IKA FIKP.
First, strengthening collaboration with the faculty in developing programs and promoting the Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries at Unhas.
Second, designing and implementing programs jointly with alumni across various institutions, ranging from regional marine and fisheries offices, NGOs, to ministries and agencies such as the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs, and the National Research and Innovation Agency.
According to Prof. Jamaluddin Jompa, one of the main challenges currently faced by higher education institutions is graduate absorption into the workforce.
Therefore, he encouraged active roles from the academic community and alumni in creating job opportunities, including involving students and fresh graduates in various work units.
“At the very least, there should be space for students or fresh graduates to be involved and work,” he said.
Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of optimizing Unhas’ marine and fisheries-based assets, such as the educational fishpond in Bojo, Barru.
However, he acknowledged that several technical challenges remain, particularly regarding land suitability for aquaculture, both during high tide and low tide conditions across time and space.
As part of IKA FIKP, Prof. Jamaluddin Jompa expressed hope that alumni would open opportunities to utilize marine and fisheries potential spread across South Sulawesi and other regions.
He also specifically asked the Chairman of IKA FIKP, Muhammad Ilyas, to identify employment opportunities and expand cooperation with ministries and institutions through the utilization of existing assets.
The working meeting was attended by several notable figures and FIKP Unhas alumni, including Rijal Idrus, Muhammad Yusri Karim, Mahatma Lanuru, Saenong, Muhammad Ishak Yusma, M. Yusran Massa, Cahyadi Rasyid, Tarunamulia, and Edison Saade.
The series of IKA FIKP Unhas working meeting activities was also complemented by a talk show on pond governance in South Sulawesi, a collaboration between Unhas, FIKP Unhas, the South Sulawesi Marine and Fisheries Office, and The Blue Forests.
The event was broadcast live via Unhas TV and conducted in collaboration with Mongabay, Pelakita.ID, and Klikhijau.
Addressing Rector JJ, Muhammad Ilyas expressed hope that IKA FIKP Unhas would take an “out of the box” approach by leveraging alumni networks to collaborate in managing various marine and fisheries assets and areas, such as fishponds and Fish Landing Bases (Pangkalan Pendaratan Ikan) across South Sulawesi.
Currently, Ilyas noted, South Sulawesi has at least 18 Fish Landing Bases that have been transferred (P3D) to the provincial government or are under the authority of the South Sulawesi Provincial Government, including underutilized ponds such as those in Luwu.
“We could collaborate with alumni or business entities initiated by FIKP alumni,” said Ilyas.
Written by Denun