POLIJE and S4C Conduct One-Week PBL Workshop on Dairy Product Development

Politeknik Negeri Jember (POLIJE), in collaboration with Swisscontact’s Skills for Competitiveness (S4C) program, successfully carried out a one-week workshop focusing on Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) in dairy product processing. The workshop took place at TEFA Milk and the Agricultural Technology Department laboratories, involving lecturers, technicians, and international partners.

The program officially began on Monday, 29 September 2025, with a welcoming session, visits to TEFA Milk and laboratory facilities, and a discussion with POLIJE teachers regarding the planned PBL lessons. During the week, participants engaged in intensive PBL sessions guided by POLIJE lecturers, covering three key areas: pasteurized milk, sterilized milk, and yoghurt production. Each session was followed by SOP development activities and structured feedback discussions to strengthen teaching methods and ensure practical outcomes.

A special contribution came from Sven, a TEFA Expert from BFH-HAFL (School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, Switzerland), who acted as facilitator and resource person throughout the workshop. His role was to provide expertise, guide the implementation of PBL in dairy product processing, and ensure that the SOPs developed met both academic and industry-relevant standards. Sven also emphasized the importance of comprehensive preparation, including laboratory readiness, SOP availability, and proper data on lecturers and students involved.

Throughout the program, the S4C team—accompanied by Daniel Weibel, Kiki Hendarin, and other invited guests such as Mr. Beny Bandanajaya—actively supported the sessions. Despite certain challenges, such as TEFA Milk facilities not yet being 100% complete in terms of packaging and raw material standards, POLIJE optimized available resources to ensure the effectiveness of the PBL sessions. From Tuesday to Thursday, designated persons-in-charge (PIC) were assigned to accompany the workshop and facilitate smooth coordination.

Another highlight was the timing of the workshop, which coincided with the AITEC event. This overlap created an opportunity to maximize institutional visibility, strengthen academic collaboration, and showcase POLIJE’s commitment to improving vocational education through international cooperation.

The closing session on Friday, 3 October 2025, reflected on the achievements of the program and explored possibilities for future collaboration. The workshop successfully concluded with the production of three dairy products—pasteurized milk, sterilized milk, and yoghurt—as tangible results of the PBL implementation.

This activity marked another milestone in POLIJE’s efforts to integrate international collaboration into vocational education, enhance the competency of lecturers and students, and align learning outcomes with industry needs.