MAKASSAR – The Faculty of Public Health (FKM) at Universitas Hasanuddin (Unhas) has once again demonstrated its commitment to excellence by hosting the 2026 Outstanding Student Selection (Pilmapres). Held on Friday, March 6, 2026, in Room K225, this prestigious annual event serves as a vital platform for young innovators to present visionary ideas aimed at addressing contemporary public health challenges.
Rising Enthusiasm and a Competitive Academic Ecosystem
This year’s Pilmapres saw a significant surge in student participation, reflecting a growing competitive spirit within the faculty. A total of 14 outstanding students from various cohorts competed for the chance to represent the faculty at the university level, an increase from 11 participants in 2025.
The participant demographics for this year include:
- Class of 2022: 1 representative.
- Class of 2023: 3 representatives.
- Class of 2024: 5 representatives.
- Class of 2025: 5 representatives.
The Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Dr. Wahiduddin, SKM, M.Kes., officially opened the event and emphasized that this increase in participants mirrors the faculty’s success in fostering a competitive academic environment. He further noted that the university now offers broader opportunities, allowing faculties to send representatives across different categories: Pratama, Utama, and Paripurna.
Strategic Innovation and Future Health Solutions
The judging session was led by a panel of experts, including Ulfah Najamuddin, S.Si, M.Kes., Basir, S.KM., M.Sc., and Andi Imam Arudhana, S.Gz, MPH. Students presented diverse and visionary ideas, ranging from high-tech applications to environmental health strategies.
Key innovations highlighted during the competition included:
- AI for Mental Health: The development of Artificial Intelligence for early detection of mental health issues and non-communicable disease screening.
- Stunting and Hypertension Models: Inclusive prevention models designed to tackle stunting and hypertension at the community level.
- Environmental Mitigation: Initiatives focusing on textile waste management and its direct impact on public health.
Synergy with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The 2026 Pilmapres is a concrete manifestation of FKM Unhas’s dedication to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The ideas presented by the students directly contribute to several global targets:
- SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): By strengthening promotive and preventive education, increasing public health research, and expanding healthcare access.
- SDG 4 (Quality Education): The rigorous selection process is an integral part of a competency-based curriculum that demands critical reasoning and the mastery of global skills.
Towards Global Competitiveness
Beyond the competition, participating in Pilmapres offers students invaluable experience that supports their Personality Development Courses (MKPK). This initiative ensures that every study program within FKM Unhas remains aligned with the faculty’s international vision and global competitiveness.
With full support from departmental heads and the administrative team, FKM Unhas aims to produce a generation of students who are not only academically superior but also possess high levels of leadership and creativity.