On Monday, April 21, 2025, the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) Universitas Indonesia (FPH UI) officially launched a program titled “Transformative Education for Advancing Competencies in Planetary Health” as part of its international collaboration with Turku University of Applied Sciences, Finland. The event, held at the FPH UI Campus in Depok, runs from April 20 to April 28, 2025.
According to the Dean of FPH UI, Prof. Dr. Mondastri Korib Sudaryo, M.S., D.Sc., the event follows a visit by UI’s academic team to Turku University of Applied Sciences in Finland from April 15 to 23, 2024. During the visit, the FPH UI team explored Finland’s approaches to education and public health.
“We are very proud to welcome our colleagues from Finland to our home. We hope this series of events not only fosters academic collaboration through the development of modules on planetary health but also inspires real change in educational practices and public health management,” said Prof. Mondastri in her opening remarks.
Prof. Dr. Katja Heikkinen, a representative from Turku University of Applied Sciences, stated, “This is our first collaboration, which will pave the way for many more to come. Through collaboration between lecturers and students, we are creating new breakthroughs together. There are clear goals and challenges that we must tackle together.” She also added, “Together with FPH UI, we also feel the joy of learning and collaborating.”
The program aims to address urgent global challenges such as pandemics, climate change, environmental degradation, and social inequality. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the crucial link between human health and planetary health. Based on this understanding, TEACH (Transformative Education for Advancing Competencies in Planetary Health) has developed a Planetary Health Education Framework, which is now being implemented in the master’s curriculum.
The core mission of this program is to integrate planetary health into master’s level education at FPH and the Faculty of Health and Well-being of both institutions. “We aim to create an inclusive and interdisciplinary learning experience that enables students to understand and tackle the complex connections between human health, environmental sustainability, and social justice,” explained Prof. Indri Hapsari Susilowati, S.K.M., M.K.K.K., Ph.D., Manager of Cooperation, Alumni Relations, and Ventures at FPH UI, who also serves as the TEACH Program Coordinator at FPH UI.
The entire series of “Transformative Education for Advancing Competencies in Planetary Health” activities, joined by six students from Turku University of Applied Sciences, is designed to be engaging and participatory. The week-long program at FPH UI includes workshops, field visits, and interactive sessions that aim to spark innovative ideas and strengthen long-term collaboration. This aligns with UI’s mission to continuously develop international partnerships and produce graduates who are ready to face global challenges.
“We hope this program brings lasting benefits to both institutions and reinforces UI’s role in global planetary health,” added the Dean of FPH UI in her closing remarks.
The TEACH opening ceremony was also attended by the Vice Dean for Education, Research, and Student Affairs of FPH UI, Dr. Ir. Asih Setiarini, M.Sc.; the Vice Dean for Resources, Ventures, and General Administration of FPH UI, Dr. Milla Herdayati, S.K.M., M.Si.; various managers and heads/secretaries of study programs at FPH UI; as well as six FPH UI master’s students participating in the program. From Turku University of Applied Sciences, Prof. Dr. Nasrin Jahan Jinia and Prof. Dr. Britt-Marie Haahti were also present.
(wrk)