Makassar, 23rd July 2025– Makassar Tourism Polytechnic convened a Curriculum and Teaching Materials Evaluation Workshop based on the ASEAN MRA-TP for the Odd Semester of the 2025–2026 Academic Year. The workshop was officially opened on 23rd July 2025, on the 2nd floor of Amanna Gappa Building.

All permanent and adjunct lecturers across various study programmes at Politeknik Pariwisata Makassar attended the event. It aimed to develop further curricula aligned with the Outcome-Based Education (OBE) approach and to support the achievement of the Work Unit Performance Indicators (IKSK) outlined in the institution’s Strategic Plan (Renstra) in pursuit of international accreditation.

In his opening remarks, Dr Herry Rachmat Widjaja, MM.Par., CHE., Director of Politeknik Pariwisata Makassar, underlined the importance of lecturers’ readiness in designing learning plans based on learning outcomes.

“This three-day workshop begins with insights into curriculum development under the OBE approach, which prioritises students’ learning outcomes rather than merely the materials delivered,” he stated.

Dr. Widjaja also stressed the need for more collaborative and participatory learning processes, in line with the implementation of IKSK 6. The evaluation of Industry-Based Learning (IBL) will also form a key part of the workshop, particularly with the implementation of the 2023 curriculum in which students undertake industry internships at different levels—operational in the 3rd semester and managerial in the 5th semester.

This arrangement means that several lecturers only teach in the 1st semester. Therefore, adjustments to cross-programme teaching loads are required to ensure that every lecturer fulfils the minimum teaching obligation of 6 credits (SKS).

The main session featured Prof. Agus Setyo Muntohar, ST., M.Eng.Sc., Ph.D (Eng.), Executive Board Member of BAN-PT and lecturer at Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY), who elaborated on the philosophy and key principles of OBE.

“In OBE, the central focus lies not in what lecturers teach, but in what students achieve after completing their learning,” Prof. Agus explained.

He also highlighted the importance of quality assurance, assessment of learning outcomes, and the need to consider students’ learning styles whether kinesthetic, visual, or auditory when designing instruction.

The workshop continued with presentations from Mr. Asri Kasim (Swisscontact), who spoke on Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL), and Dr. Ratna Wasding, M.Pd., lecturer at Makassar Tourism Polytechnic, who presented her research findings on the impact of IBL implementation in enhancing students’ English proficiency.

The workshop is expected to enhance the quality of curriculum and teaching at Poltekpar Makassar while strengthening synergy between academia and industry to produce graduates who are competent and competitive at the ASEAN level.