More Than Just Studying, Politap Students Create Innovations for the Environment!

Ketapang, 15 May 2025 – Politeknik Negeri Ketapang (Ketapang State Polytechnic) continues to strengthen its commitment to creating an eco-friendly campus. One concrete manifestation of this commitment is the holding of the Green Campus Implementation Workshop, held on Thursday, 15 May 2025, at the Department of Mechanical Engineering Workshop.

This activity is an implementation of the green campus program continuously developed by Politap. The workshop addressed crucial issues regarding waste management, focusing on the creation of segregated plastic waste bins as an initial step toward fostering a cleaner, healthier, and more eco-friendly campus environment.

This workshop was organized through a collaboration between the Mechanical Engineering Laboratory and Practicum Staff (PLP) and student association representatives across Politap. This collaboration demonstrates real synergy between educational staff and students in educating and generating concrete solutions to environmental issues on campus.

In his remarks, Vice Director for Academic Affairs, Dr. Anto Susanto, S.ST., M.P., stated that the provision of sorted trash bins is not merely a physical project, but part of sustainable behavioral change.

“We cannot simply rely on facilities; we must also change our perspective and habits in managing waste, especially plastic, which is a real threat to the environment. Through this workshop, students are encouraged not only to manufacture them, but also to understand the significance of responsible waste management,” he said.

Hands-on practice took place at the Department of Mechanical Engineering Workshop, where students were trained to fabricate trash bins with functional, user-friendly, and durable designs.

The main objectives of this workshop are to:

1. Raise student awareness of environmental issues, especially plastic waste.
2. Build students' practical skills in creating facilities supporting waste management.
3. Foster a sustainable and participatory green campus culture.

With the organization of this workshop, it also serves as a practical educational space for students to understand the importance of reducing plastic waste and how simple innovations can have a major impact on the campus environmental sustainability.

This workshop also marks the initial step in a long-term project to be carried out by each student association, where the crafted waste bins will be installed at strategic points across the Politap campus. Students will also be involved in monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of these bins. Politap hopes to shape a generation of students who not only excel academically, but also possess strong social and environmental awareness.

The green campus spirit is expected to flourish, establishing Politap as an example of an environmentally conscious and sustainable vocational campus. With a collaborative spirit and concrete action, Politap continues to demonstrate that the shift toward a green campus is not merely rhetoric, but a collective movement starting from small yet meaningful steps. (finn)