The Learning Express (LeX) 2025 programme concluded in Tamaona, Gowa with student-led solutions to real-life agricultural challenges. Prototypes addressed local farmers’ needs through a collaborative, cross-cultural approach

The Learning Express (LeX) 2025 programme officially concluded on Saturday, 13 April, in Kelurahan Tamaona, Tombolo Pao District, Gowa Regency. The closing event, named Co-Creation Day, saw 60 students from Universitas Muhammadiyah (Unismuh) Makassar and Singapore Polytechnic present six collaborative prototypes to the local community. These innovations tackled long-standing agricultural issues, ranging from work efficiency to waste management and adaptive harvesting techniques.

This year’s LeX programme marked the first time students from abroad had visited Tamaona for a collaborative project. The village head, Muhammad Yusuf, warmly welcomed the initiative, stating that the students’ presence and engagement went beyond community service. He expressed his gratitude to Unismuh Makassar for selecting Tamaona as the site of this international outreach effort.

Over the course of twelve days, the students were divided into three project groups focusing on tomato, rice, and passion fruit commodities. Using a design thinking approach grounded in empathy and fieldwork, each team developed practical solutions to problems faced by local farmers. Innovations included the ZipZap zipline and Down 2 Earth pesticide delivery system for tomatoes, the Pest Paddy Cart and Biobarrel for rice farming, and the Passion Fruit Harvester 3000 and Communal Compost Bin for passion fruit cultivation.

The programme was jointly facilitated by academic staff from both institutions. Singapore Polytechnic was represented by Mr. Muhd Nadji, Mr. Mohd Farid Johari from the School of Media, Arts, and Design, and Ms. Min Swe Swe from the School of Chemical Engineering. Unismuh Makassar’s team included Dr. Andi Bulkis Maghfirah Mannong, Dr. Sitti Maryam Hamid, and Uyunnasirah Hambali, M.Pd.

Wildhan Burhanuddin, Programme Coordinator from Unismuh, emphasised that LeX was more than an academic exercise. He described it as a cross-cultural learning process that fostered social empathy and encouraged students to step outside their comfort zones. LeX, initiated annually by Singapore Polytechnic, brings together partner universities across Asia and this year included just two Indonesian institutions: Universitas Pelita Harapan and Unismuh Makassar.

Source: Unismuh Makassar