Makassar, January 20, 2026 — The Board of Trustees (MWA) of Hasanuddin University has agreed in principle to open a Bachelor of Science (S1) program in Railway Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, Hasanuddin University. The approval was conveyed at the MWA meeting held on Tuesday (20/1) at the Hasanuddin University Rectorate Building.

The opening of the Bachelor of Railway Engineering Study Program is considered a strategic step by Hasanuddin University in responding to national needs for human resources in the railway sector, particularly in supporting the development of the railway transportation network in Eastern Indonesia. This study program is also expected to strengthen the role of Unhas as a state-owned legal entity university (PTNBH) that is adaptive to the national development agenda.

During the meeting, the MWA emphasized that the opening of new study programs must consider aspects of sustainability, financial independence, and the readiness of facilities and infrastructure, so as not to burden the university’s finances. Additionally, the MWA also stressed the importance of regularly evaluating the performance of new study programs as part of strengthening academic governance.

The Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Hasanuddin University explained that the urgency of opening the Railway Engineering Study Program was driven by the real needs of stakeholders, including the Directorate General of Railways and PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero), as well as projections for the development of the national railway system covering Sulawesi and Eastern Indonesia. Currently, undergraduate programs in Railway Engineering in Indonesia are still very limited, so the presence of Unhas is expected to become a center for scientific development and the provision of professionals in this field.

The Unhas MWA gave its approval with a number of recommendations for improvement, including strengthening the projection of railway expert personnel needs, confirming a curriculum that accommodates future technological developments, preparing a risk management analysis, and refining financial projections and cash flow for the next five years. In addition, the MWA also encouraged the strengthening of the position of the Unhas Railway Engineering Study Program so that it has uniqueness and competitiveness at the national level.

All of these notes will be followed up by the proposing team to refine the proposal document before the further administrative process, including fulfilling the minimum accreditation requirements and preparing for the admission of new students.

With this agreement, Hasanuddin University affirms its commitment to contribute to the provision of excellent human resources in the field of railway transportation, while supporting the acceleration of sustainable national infrastructure development.