Universitas Indonesia (UI), through the Faculty of Public Health (FKM), together with the Australian Consortium for In-Country Indonesian Studies (ACICIS) held the Public Health Study Tour 2025, on January 13-25, 2025. This activity is a program designed to provide broad insight into the challenges and developments in public health in Indonesia to 42 foreign students from 10 universities in Australia with various disciplines.
In addition to obtaining theoretical material from public health experts at FKM UI, the Dean of FKM UI, Prof. dr. Mondastri Korib Sudaryo, M.S., D.Sc., said that participants also had the opportunity to be involved in field activities that provided a practical understanding of the implementation of health policies and programs in Indonesia.
“The Public Health Study Tour 2025 is a forum for international students to learn directly from experts in Indonesia, and provide them with valuable experience in dealing with global health issues with a local perspective that is rich in cultural values and traditions. It is hoped that this activity can strengthen international collaboration in the health sector and provide a positive impact on the development of health policies in both countries,” said Prof. Mondastri.
He further said that during the activity, participants will see firsthand how health policies and community programs in Indonesia are designed to meet the needs of various regions and populations. He hopes that this experience will enrich the participants’ knowledge and inspire new ideas that can be brought back to their home countries.
In addition to academic and professional aspects, Prof. Mondastri said that FKM UI also encourages participants to experience the local culture, traditions, and hospitality offered by Indonesia. “We believe that cross-cultural exchange is very important to build a world full of empathy, especially in the field of public health,” said Prof. Mondastri.
Some of the agendas in the activity include visiting a number of health facilities and environmental management that are the best examples in the field of public health. One of them is a visit to the TPS (Waste Management Site) 3R (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) which introduces participants to environmentally friendly waste management. In addition, they also visited the Universitas Indonesia Hospital (RSUI) which provided an overview of health services in Indonesia.
Meanwhile, participants are also invited to learn more about Indonesian culture through a visit to Taman Mini Indonesia Indah. There, participants can get to know more about the richness of Indonesia’s diverse culture, which plays an important role in understanding the social and cultural context in public health policy.
“Through the Public Health Study Tour 2025, it is hoped that participants will not only gain new insights into public health challenges and solutions in Indonesia, but also strengthen cross-cultural connections that support global collaboration. This experience is a real step in building shared understanding and inspiring closer international cooperation to address pressing health issues in the future. FKM UI and ACICIS believe that programs like this will be an important foundation in creating a generation of resilient, innovative, and solution-oriented health professionals,” said Prof. Mondastri.
