Makassar, 10^th July 2025 — Makassar Tourism Polytechnic has once again demonstrated its commitment to the Three Pillars of Higher Education (Tri Dharma Perguruan Tinggi), particularly in the area of community service. The Hotel Management Study Programme (PPH) organised an activity titled “Community Empowerment through Hospitality Training”, aimed at equipping local communities with practical skills and basic knowledge in hospitality and service.

The training, held on Thursday, 10^th July 2025, at Makassar Tourism Polytechnic campus, was attended by local residents, parents of students, and members of Dharma Wanita. It served as a platform for direct knowledge transfer from students and lecturers to the community, while also showcasing the institution’s active role in enhancing human resource capacity in the tourism sector.

The event was officially opened by the First Deputy Director of Makassar Tourism Polytechnic, Muhammad Arfin Muh Salim, M.Pd, Ph.D, CHE, and attended by Head of the Hotel Management Study Programme, Muhammad Anas, SE, MM, CHE, who delivered welcoming remarks. In his speech, the First Vice Director expressed his appreciation for the active involvement of both students and the community.

“With this improvement in competence, we believe that communities can become more independent, creative, and innovative in improving their quality of life and economic well-being,” he said.

The training featured sixth-semester Hotel Management students as the main trainers, delivering three practical sessions: restaurant service, laundry, and kitchen operations. Each session was guided by permanent lecturers of the programme. The materials included coffee preparation, laundry business management, and small-scale business planning and development. Participants also took part in hands-on training in making dim sum, presented as a high-value culinary business opportunity. These applied practices were designed to provide real-world experience and transferable skills for participants to use in their own communities.

Enthusiasm was evident throughout the programme. One participant, Hasninda Sari, a parent of a Makassar Tourism Polytechnic student, shared that the training was highly beneficial. She noted that the skills taught had opened new opportunities for her to start a home business.

“The skills we were taught can be applied immediately as a home business. This has truly broadened our horizons as members of the community,” she said.

Through this initiative, Makassar Tourism Polytechnic seeks to strengthen the relationship between academia and the community, while actively contributing to local economic development through skills-based hospitality training. Such community engagement reflects the institution’s tangible academic contribution to building a more empowered society, ready to compete in the ever-evolving tourism industry.