The Faculty of Public Health (FPH) Universitas Indonesia (UI) is the organizer of the 2023 International Student Public Health and Social Work Study Tour (ISPH-SWST) Program. The program, which was held on 4 – 17 December 2023, was attended by 17 undergraduate students with public health and biomedical sciences specializations originating from Queensland University of Technology (QUT).
The International Student Public Health and Social Work Study Tour Program 2023 is an intensive program for Australian public health students which aims to enrich their knowledge and experience by directly seeing and studying the area of public health in Indonesia. The material provided in this field learning refers to three domains. First, participants were explained current issues as well as an overview of the challenges faced in improving the level of public health in Indonesia. Second, to facilitate participants with a biomedical specialization background, there are learning sessions about biomedicine and its role in public health, especially in laboratory detection of several diseases. The third domain is related to learning about disabilities and social work from a public health perspective. During the program, the participants are accompanied by a tour leader, FPH UI representatives and Indonesian students who will become student buddies and share experiences related to science and implementation of public health in the two countries.
Dean of FPH UI, Prof. dr. Mondastri Korib Sudaryo, M.S., D.Sc., gave a warm welcome to the 2023 ISPH-SWST Program participants. “It is an honor for FPH UI to be the organizer of the 2023 International Student Public Health and Social Work Study Tour Program. Through this activity we hope Participants can learn about public health problems and programs through seminars and field visits to several public health facilities in Indonesia. And we hope that the participants can enjoy and learn Indonesian culture and language. “This activity is a good start for collaboration and cooperation between FPH UI and QUT in the future,” said Prof. Mondastri.
In this ISPH-SWST Program activity, participants are given various materials on topics such as General Overview of Indonesian Public Health System, Public Health Challenges in Indonesia and Role of Stakeholders, Communicable Diseases, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Nutrition and Food Safety, Stunting in Indonesia, Health Status and Population Development in Indonesia, Disability and Social Work, Advancements in Laboratory Diagnostics for DHF, Malaria, and TB in Indonesia: Current Status and Future Prospects, Non-Communicable Diseases in Indonesia, and Tobacco and Youth in Indonesia. These materials were not only provided by FPH UI lecturers but also guest speakers from the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN), the Demographic Institute of the Faculty of Economics and Business UI, the Indonesian Social Work Consortium, and UI Faculty of Medicine.
Apart from the material, participants were also invited to undertake field visits to several places related to public health and social work such as the Community Health Center and Posyandu in Babakan Madang, waste processing sites using the 3R principle (reduce, reuse, recycle) in Bogor, Secondary and Tertiary Care Field Visit the UI Hospital, as well as the Cipayung Nursing Home. Participants also visited the Australian Embassy in Indonesia and the Indonesian Ministry of State Secretariat.
The Indonesian culture introduction program is also part of ISPH-SWST activities. Participants are given the opportunity to study Indonesian at the UI International Language Institute (LBI), get to know Betawi culture and food by visiting the Setu Babakan Betawi Cultural Village, and enjoy the atmosphere and typical Sundanese food at Saung Dolken.
Jerico Pardosi, S.K.M., M.P.H., Ph.D., Alumni of FPH UI in 2007, who is a Lecturer in the School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT) expressed his gratitude for providing an opportunity for QUT students to learn directly from public health experts at FPH UI and experience firsthand the culture and health facilities in Indonesia.
Through participation in the ISPH-SWST Program, Australian students have the opportunity to learn directly from teachers, practitioners and the public health community in Indonesia. So, it is hoped that this activity can provide various perspectives and experiences that will be beneficial for public health in both countries.
“Public health is a science that continues to develop, so participating in this activity is very beneficial for us because we can learn directly from experts both in terms of theory and practice. Seeing how policies influence decision making in public health programs in Indonesia and how communities play a role in helping public health programs is something that is interesting for us. “We received a lot of input while participating in the program at FPH UI,” said Jack Mcbride, one of the 2023 ISPH-SWST Program participants.