Depok, 8 December 2025 — The Faculty of Public Health (FPH), Universitas Indonesia (UI), once again reaffirmed its commitment to expanding international networks and strengthening global learning experiences for students through the implementation of the 19th batch of the Public Health Study Tour (PHST). Officially opened on Monday, 8 December 2025, at PA 209 Meeting Room, RIK Building UI, this program—now approaching a decade of implementation—has become one of the flagship collaborative initiatives between FPH UI and the Australian Consortium for In-Country Indonesian Studies (ACICIS).
This year’s PHST program is attended by 26 students from eight universities in Australia, with full support from the ACICIS team and mentoring by FPH UI student buddies. The diverse institutional backgrounds of the participants make the program a cross-cultural learning space as well as a platform for strengthening understanding of public health issues in Indonesia from a global perspective.
In her opening remarks, the Education Manager of FPH UI, Dr. Laila Fitria, S.K.M., M.K.M., expressed her appreciation for the continuity of this strategic collaboration. “It is with great pleasure that I am here today to officially open this collaborative program between the Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia (FPH UI), and the Australian Consortium for In-Country Indonesian Studies (ACICIS). We are delighted to welcome 26 student participants representing eight universities from Australia,” said Dr. Laila. “The Public Health Study Tour was first launched in 2016. Today, as we open the 19th batch, we mark an important milestone in a collaboration that has lasted nearly ten years. This long-term partnership is truly remarkable, as it delivers tangible benefits to many parties—strengthening institutional ties between FPH UI and ACICIS, providing valuable practical learning experiences for participants, and creating opportunities for cross-cultural understanding and professional networking for FPH UI student buddies,” she added.
On the same occasion, the Head of the Subdirectorate for International Services and International Students, Directorate of International Education UI, Nurul Tri Wirastiningtyas, S.Hum., M.Sc., also delivered a warm welcome to all program participants. She expressed her gratitude and appreciation for the presence of Australian students in a program that has been consistently conducted on an annual basis.
“We are grateful for your presence here. We hope that you will gain meaningful experiences and valuable learning throughout this program. May this opportunity broaden your friendships with our students and enrich your understanding of public health in Indonesia, while also strengthening your perspective on public health in a global context,” said Nurul.
These remarks further emphasized UI’s commitment to supporting international academic mobility, while providing space for international students to gain first-hand insights into Indonesia’s public health context through immersive field experiences.
Furthermore, Dr. Laila explained that PHST offers a comprehensive learning experience on public health in Indonesia. Over the course of the two-week program, participants attend a series of thematic seminars delivered by leading academics and practitioners, including Indonesia’s Health System by Prof. Purnawan Junadi; Neglected Diseases by Dr. dr. Tri Yunis Miko W., M.Sc.; The Impact of Climate Change on Maternal and Child Health by dr. Heru Kasidi, M.Sc.; Non-Communicable Diseases in Indonesia by Dr. rer. medic. drg. Dwi Gayatri, M.P.H.; Disaster Management by Prof. Indri Hapsari, S.K.M., M.K.K.K., Ph.D.; Food Safety by dr. Agustin Kusumayati, M.Sc., Ph.D.; Mental Health in Indonesia by Prof. Dr. Budi Anna Keliat, S.Kp., M.App.Sc.; Tobacco and Adolescents by Dr. dra. Rita Damayanti, M.S.P.H.; Updates on Stunting and Indonesia’s Experience by dr. Fathimah Sulistyowati Sigit, M.Res., Ph.D.; Population Dynamics by Prof. Dra. Omas Bulan Samosir, Ph.D.; as well as Dengue Fever and Malaria Prevention by Prof. Dr. dr. Sabarinah, M.Sc.
Participants also attend Indonesian language classes at LBI UI to support cross-cultural adaptation. The language materials cover basic greetings, daily conversations, and relevant vocabulary for everyday needs during their stay in Indonesia.
In addition to seminar sessions, PHST enriches participants’ experiences through field visits to various institutions, including hospitals, community-based waste management facilities (TPS3R), primary health centers (puskesmas), and several NGOs, as well as cultural activities in Jakarta, Depok, Bogor, and Yogyakarta.
The program is further complemented by cultural explorations at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, Kebon Agung, and city tours in Jakarta, Depok, and Yogyakarta, providing contextual understanding of Indonesia’s social and cultural diversity.
The consistent implementation of the Public Health Study Tour up to its 19th batch stands as clear evidence of FPH UI’s commitment to delivering globally oriented education, strengthening international academic networks, and providing hands-on learning experiences for students across borders. With a spirit of collaboration and intercultural exchange, FPH UI hopes that PHST will continue to deliver tangible benefits for the development of future generations in the field of public health. (wrk)