Depok, April 6, 2026 – The Faculty of Public Health (FPH) Universitas Indonesia (UI) held a Grant Proposal Sharing Session on Monday (6/4) at the Professors’ Room, 1st Floor, Building G, FPH UI. The event was attended by department heads, lecturers, as well as representatives of master’s and doctoral students.
The Grant Proposal Sharing Session aimed to improve the quality of international research grant proposals, particularly for funding schemes such as the e-Asia Joint Research Program (JRP) and the Wellcome Trust. Participants received guidance and engaged in discussions on strategies for preparing proposals that align with the criteria and standards of international funding agencies.
In the main session, Prof. Dr. R. Budi Haryanto, S.K.M., M.Kes., M.Sc., Professor from the Department of Environmental Health, FPH UI, shared his experiences and strategies for successfully securing international research grants. He emphasized that success in grant applications is determined not only by the quality of the research idea but also by the strength of sustained international collaboration networks.
“Active participation in international conferences is a key factor in building research networks. Through these platforms, researchers can meet potential collaborators, exchange ideas, and open broader opportunities for collaboration,” explained Prof. Budi.
He also highlighted the importance of developing proposals with clear problem identification, relevance to funding priorities, and strong team collaboration. Research, he noted, should not remain purely conceptual but should also include intervention components and policy engagement to ensure real-world impact.
From a technical perspective, Prof. Budi stressed that attractive project titles and acronyms can improve reviewer recall of proposals. He also reminded participants that funding topics should serve as a trigger for research ideas, ensuring alignment with the priorities of funding agencies.
The session was further enriched by interactive discussions. One participant, a lecturer from the Department of Epidemiology, FPH UI, dr. Lhuri D. Rahmartani, B.Med.Sc., M.Epid., D.Phil., raised a question regarding strategies to ensure the credibility of research partners beyond academic indicators. In response, Prof. Budi suggested reviewing partners’ track records, seeking references from colleagues, and starting with small-scale collaborations before expanding into larger projects.
The discussion also covered strategies for managing international partnerships, including negotiations on authorship positions in scientific publications. Participants were encouraged to establish agreements from the outset and to document each party’s contributions transparently and professionally.
In the closing session, Prof. Budi shared several key tips to improve the chances of securing international grants, including actively building networks, maintaining consistent publications in international journals, highlighting the uniqueness of Indonesian research topics, and keeping up with global research trends.
Through this capacity-building initiative, FPH UI is committed to empowering its researchers to become more competitive at the international level. It is hoped that higher-quality research proposals will open wider opportunities for cross-country collaboration. Ultimately, each research output is expected to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of science and provide solutions to global public health challenges. (wrk)