Product Design students at Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana (UKDW) Yogyakarta are privileged to be part of the Teaching Practitioner Program, a unique opportunity funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia. This program, in line with the Kampus Merdeka initiative, offers a Technical Drawing course, where students gain invaluable insights from seasoned industry practitioners, enriching their learning experiences.

This year’s Teaching Practitioner Program for the Product Design Department at UKDW features Hermawan Ariwibowo, an industry expert with experience in leading companies such as PT. Triangle Motorindo, CV. Laksana Karoseri, and PT. Nayati Indonesia. By integrating industry practitioners into the classroom, the program aims to enhance the quality of learning, allowing students direct exposure to expert insights and a deeper understanding of real-world industrial design practices.

Dan Daniel Pandapotan, S.Ds., M.Ds., one of the Product Design lecturers at UKDW, highlighted that learning activities take place in nationally standardized computer laboratories equipped with full CAD software licenses and tailored to industrial design specifications. “Learning product design has become more seamless for students, thanks to the comprehensive support provided by campus facilities and infrastructure, ensuring they meet the graduate profile and are ready to compete in the workforce,” he stressed.

The Teaching Practitioner Program, an initiative by Indonesia’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, is designed to equip university graduates with practical skills for the job market. The program fosters meaningful knowledge exchange through active collaboration between expert practitioners and lecturers, bridging academia and professional expertise.

Dr. Phil. Lucia Dwi Krisnawati, the Coordinator of the Teaching Practitioner Program at UKDW, noted the significant benefits for Product Design students, highlighting how learning alongside practitioners in the Technical Drawing course enhances their design skills and ability to create products meeting market demands. [humasukdw/Eng.drr]