Balikpapan - Institut Teknologi Kalimantan (ITK) welcomed a delegation from UPT SMAN 1 Pinrang, South Sulawesi, on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. The visit was part of SMAN 1 Pinrang’s effort to broaden students’ knowledge of higher education institutions and map out potential study pathways as they prepare for their future education.

The delegation was welcomed by ITK’s Vice Rector for Planning, Finance, and General Affairs, Ir. Khakim Ghozali, M.MT., together with Head of the Academic and General Affairs Bureau Yuspian, S.Sos., M.I.R., Acting Head of the Academic Division Ike Wayan Norma Yunita, S.Pd., and Head of the Public Relations and Protocol Team Nabila Khaerunnisa, S.Kom.

The visit was part of SMAN 1 Pinrang’s 2026–2027 State University Educational Tour Program. More than simply visiting the campus, the school aims to provide students with broader perspectives on higher education opportunities, including universities outside Sulawesi and Java.

One of SMAN 1 Pinrang’s main concerns is ensuring that students are introduced to higher education options from an early stage. This approach allows students to enter their final year of high school with a clearer understanding of universities, study programs, academic fields, and future opportunities that align with their interests and abilities.

This effort is considered particularly important because the school’s initial mapping shows that students have diverse plans after graduation. Of approximately 200 students, some are interested in entering the workforce or pursuing entrepreneurship, while the number of students planning to continue to higher education still needs to be encouraged. Therefore, the school is working to provide students with more information about university pathways and career prospects.

During the discussion with ITK, the SMAN 1 Pinrang delegation explored information about the study programs offered at ITK, the characteristics of each academic discipline, and the opportunities available to graduates. Such information is considered essential, particularly because several fields of study at technology-based universities are still relatively unfamiliar to students and the wider public.

As a state university focused on science and technology, ITK offers a wide range of academic disciplines. These are not limited to conventional engineering fields, but also include science, information technology, planning, business, and other areas related to future industrial development and societal needs.

ITK Vice Rector for Planning, Finance, and General Affairs, Khakim Ghozali, welcomed SMAN 1 Pinrang’s initiative to introduce students to higher education opportunities at an earlier stage. He emphasized that communication between universities and schools could be continued so that information about study programs would not end with this visit alone.

One of the proposed follow-up initiatives is an online information session through Zoom Meeting, involving ITK’s Public Relations team and relevant study programs. Through this activity, SMAN 1 Pinrang students would have the opportunity to interact directly with ITK representatives, learn more about their preferred study programs, understand the fields of knowledge involved, and explore academic and career prospects.

Such collaboration is expected to help schools provide more focused guidance to students in determining their future paths. For students, access to a wider range of information can help them understand that higher education opportunities are not limited to universities located near their hometowns.

The visit of SMAN 1 Pinrang to ITK also opens opportunities for students from South Sulawesi to become more familiar with a state technology university located in East Kalimantan. Through continued communication, ITK and SMAN 1 Pinrang are expected to jointly expand access to higher education information and help students make informed decisions based on their interests, potential, preferred academic fields, and future aspirations.