On 31st January 2017, Universitas Prasetiya Mulya’s School of Business and Economics launched the iGLOOS Modular House in partnership with the Embassy of Finland’s Local Cooperative Fund at the university’s Cilandak campus. iGLOOS is a multi-functional makeshift house that was created as a solution for victims of natural disasters in Indonesia; proper housing is one of three main challenges in humanitarian relief listed by Indonesia’s National Agency for Disaster Management. Attendees at the event included Rector of Universitas Prasetiya Mulya Prof. Djisman S Simandjuntak, representative of the Embassy of Finland Mr Tavani Kivela, Coordinator of the Local Cooperative Fund, Mr Ivan Alidjaja in addition Dr. Ir. Taufik Kartiko, M.Si as Director of Refugee Management at the National Agency for Disaster Management. Moreover, a number of businessmen with an interest in sociopreneurship initiatives from wide-ranging sectors such as capital venture also attended the event.
The iGLOOS concept was initiated by Universitas Prasetiya Mulya’s postgraduate student, Mr Nico Fernando Samad in which the project offers four core benefits: an independent energy source, simple modification and installation as well as ease of assembly. Furthermore, iGLOOS features solar panels, a water bank, and an exhaust fan with the capacity to house four individuals; the 7.84 sq.m iGLOOS house has also been tested to withstand a maximum of four disaster-related events thus serving as an ideal solution for humanitarian aid programmes. At the event, Universitas Prasetiya Mulya displayed two iGLOOS prototype homes which had been built by Mr Nico’s team with funding assistance from the Embassy of Finland. The iGLOOS Modular House showcases Universitas Prasetiya Mulya’s readiness to produce graduates with a drive for innovation, entrepreneurship, and an awareness on social responsibility so as to push for further development in Indonesia.
Photos courtesy of Universitas Prasetiya Mulya