Saturday, 17 May 2025 – The Aquaculture Study Program (BDP), Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries, Hasanuddin University, once again organized the Integrated Field Practice (PLT) for the 2023 cohort. This one-day activity was attended by more than 60 students and served as a platform for direct field-based learning, bridging academic theory with practical applications in the field of aquaculture.
PLT is not merely a routine academic activity; rather, it serves as a bridge between knowledge acquired in the classroom and the dynamics of the real working environment. As explained by Dr. Andi Aliah Hidayani, S.Si., M.Si., Head of the Aquaculture Study Program at UNHAS, PLT is designed to enrich students’ understanding of real challenges in the aquaculture sector, including technical, environmental, and socio-economic aspects.
This year’s Integrated Field Practice (PLT) does not merely present a single perspective on aquaculture; rather, it opens four distinct experiential windows that represent the fisheries industry value chain in its entirety. This is achieved through visits to four strategic locations in South Sulawesi: BBI Bantimurung (Maros Regency), PT Tom Otsuki Mutiara (Barru Regency), PT Esaputli Prakarsa Utama (Barru Regency), and CV. Puncak Sinunggal (Barru Regency).
Moreover, this activity also serves as an important platform for developing students non technical (soft) skills, such as teamwork, communication skills, and problem solving in field conditions, competencies that are essential when they enter the professional world.
This Integrated Field Practice (PLT) offers more than just experience it transforms students’ perspectives on the profession they are pursuing. They no longer understand aquaculture solely from a biological standpoint, but also as an interconnected system involving social, economic, and technological dimensions. Through interactions with field practitioners, students learn to adapt, ask questions, and think critically essential skills they will carry into their future careers.
Through activities such as PLT, Hasanuddin University continues to demonstrate its commitment to producing graduates who not only master theoretical knowledge but are also ready to enter the fisheries industry with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the aquaculture sector.
“We hope that students bring home not only data, but also experience, inspiration, and professional networks that will be valuable for their future careers,” concluded Dr. Andi Aliah.