YOGYAKARTA — The Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vocational College, Universitas Gadjah Mada (DTM SV UGM), held a strategic discussion with representatives from the National University of Singapore (NUS) on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. The meeting, held in the DTM SV UGM Meeting Room from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., discussed potential collaboration on processing plastic bottle waste into filament for 3D printing, which could be utilized in community service activities in Yogyakarta.
The visit was attended by Derick Tay, Chok-Oon-Kit Khanatip, and their team from NUS, who visited DTM SV UGM in person. Representatives from DTM SV UGM included Dr.Eng. Yosephus Ardean Kurnianto Prayitno, S.T., M.Eng.; Dr. Ir. Sugiyanto, S.T., M.Eng., IPM.; Ir. Irfan Bahiuddin, S.T., M.Phil., Ph.D., IPM., ASEAN Eng.; Dr. Ir. Bambang Hari Priyambodo, S.T., M.Eng.; and staff members of the Industrial Equipment Laboratory. The meeting marked an initial step toward establishing an international partnership focusing on recycling technology and community service.
The discussion aimed to identify potential research collaboration schemes as well as the application of appropriate technology for processing plastic bottle waste. Through this collaboration, recycled 3D printing filament is expected not only to support academic research but also to be utilized in community service programs in the Special Region of Yogyakarta.
This international collaboration initiative aligns with the commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, through sustainable plastic waste management, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, by strengthening cross-border academic collaboration to create meaningful impacts for communities.