The internationalization of higher education continues to be an important focus for FPH UI in building competitive and globally relevant academic quality. One of the tangible efforts in supporting this agenda is the active participation of FPH UI faculty members in international mobility programs such as the Erasmus International Teaching Week. This year, the program was held again at the West University of Timișoara (WUT), Romania, from April 7–11, 2025. The event brought together lecturers from various countries including Italy, France, Ukraine, Turkey, Kazakhstan, China, Albania, India, Indonesia, and many others to share expertise, strengthen networks, and enrich cross-cultural teaching perspectives.
Abdul Kadir, M.Sc., a lecturer from the Occupational Health and Safety Department (K3) at the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) Universitas Indonesia (UI), was one of the 20 selected participants who received a grant from the Erasmus+ program, and was the only participant from Indonesia. During the event, Abdul Kadir had the opportunity to give a lecture titled “The Importance of Health, Safety, and Wellbeing at Work: Global and Indonesian Perspectives” to Social Work students at West University of Timișoara. In his lecture, Abdul Kadir discussed the importance of implementing occupational health and safety principles in a global context, sharing best practices from Indonesia, and providing new insights into the challenges of modern workplaces for WUT students.
Throughout the five-day program, participants were not only involved in teaching activities but also attended collaborative workshops and various cultural introduction sessions. The Erasmus International Teaching Week provided a platform for interaction among academics from diverse disciplines and countries, fostering the exchange of ideas and long-term collaboration opportunities. In addition to broadening students’ understanding of global and local health issues, the event also served as a platform to promote Indonesian culture and academics on the international stage.
“My participation in the Erasmus International Teaching Week 2025 was a valuable experience, especially in enhancing cross-cultural communication skills and expanding my teaching perspectives at the international level. Interacting with students and faculty from different countries provided new insights that enriched my approach to teaching occupational health and safety in a global and contextual manner,” said Abdul Kadir. “I hope this experience will inspire young faculty members at FPH UI to actively seize similar international opportunities, as activities like this not only strengthen individual capacities but also bring strategic benefits to the institution,” he added.
Abdul Kadir’s participation in this event not only brought honor to FPH UI and Universitas Indonesia but also reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to supporting inclusive and sustainable global collaborations. It is hoped that this experience will inspire more faculty members and students to actively engage in international mobility to strengthen academic networks. (wrk)