Depok, October 20, 2025 — The Faculty of Public Health (FPH) Universitas Indonesia (UI) welcomed a benchmarking visit from the Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Imam Bonjol Padang on Monday (October 20) at Meeting Room B206A, FPH UI. The visit aimed to learn about best practices and curriculum development processes as part of UIN Imam Bonjol Padang’s preparation to establish an Undergraduate Public Health Study Program.
The meeting was opened by Dr. Laila Fitria, S.K.M., M.K.M., Education Manager of FPH UI, who introduced the representatives from FPH UI, including dr. Agustin Kusumayati, M.Sc., Ph.D., Government Representative of the Indonesian Health Council (KKI); Prof. Dr. dr. Sabarinah, M.Sc., Chair of AIPTKMI Regional Jakarta, West Java, and Banten; Prof. Dr. Robiana Modjo, S.K.M., M.Kes., Head of the Undergraduate Public Health Program at FPH UI; and Dr. Eng. Stevan Debi Anbiya Muhammad Sunarno, S.K.M., M.K.K.K., Secretary of the Undergraduate Public Health Program at FPH UI. In her remarks, Dr. Laila expressed appreciation for UIN Imam Bonjol Padang’s initiative to expand into the field of public health and affirmed FPH UI’s commitment to supporting academic development across Indonesian universities.
Dr. Yulia, M.Pd., Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology at UIN Imam Bonjol Padang, together with a team of six cross-faculty lecturers appointed by the Rector to prepare the establishment of the new study program, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to gain valuable insights from FPH UI. “This visit has provided us with many useful inputs, particularly in understanding regulatory aspects, curriculum design, and human resource capacity building. FPH UI stands as a concrete example of how an academic institution can manage a comprehensive public health education program,” said Dr. Yulia.
The discussion session began with a presentation by dr. Agustin Kusumayati, M.Sc., Ph.D., Government Representative of the Indonesian Health Council (KKI), who elaborated on the development of the Public Health Profession in Indonesia. She explained the human resource regulatory framework outlined in Law of the Republic of Indonesia No. 17 of 2023, which classifies healthcare workers into 12 categories — including public health professionals, environmental health workers, and nutritionists. Dr. Agustin emphasized the importance of professional education for public health graduates and the requirement for all health professionals to possess a license to practice based on competency standards. “Public health education should not only produce graduates with theoretical knowledge but also professionals equipped with practical competencies that meet professional standards,” she stated.
She also added that the Indonesian Association of Schools of Public Health (AIPTKMI) has established guidelines for curriculum development based on Outcome-Based Education (OBE), which will be updated in November to address current needs and challenges in public health.
Next, Prof. Dr. dr. Sabarinah, M.Sc., Chair of AIPTKMI Regional Jakarta, West Java, and Banten, presented the current landscape of undergraduate public health programs in Indonesia. She comprehensively discussed the legal framework, educational policies, curriculum structure, vision and mission, objectives, and learning outcomes of public health education, as well as the scope of practice for public health professionals.
“Curriculum development should be competency-oriented and responsive to societal needs. Public health graduates should not only be able to work in health institutions but also serve as agents of change in promoting and preventing health issues across sectors,” said Prof. Sabarinah.
She highlighted the importance of aligning the five domains of public health practice defined by WHO with the six domains of competencies established by AIPTKMI to ensure that public health education maintains global standards while remaining locally relevant.
To conclude the session, Prof. Dr. Robiana Modjo, S.K.M., M.K.M., Head of the Undergraduate Public Health Program at FPH UI, presented an overview of the program, including its history, curriculum structure, areas of specialization, and learning strategies focused on strengthening competency and professionalism among graduates.
“As an educational institution with more than five decades of experience, FPH UI is always open to sharing best practices in managing public health education. We hope our experiences can serve as a valuable reference for UIN Imam Bonjol Padang in building a strong, relevant, and sustainable study program,” said Prof. Robiana Modjo.
Following the presentations, an interactive discussion session took place. FPH UI experts responded to a variety of questions from the UIN Imam Bonjol Padang delegation, ranging from curriculum planning and accreditation mechanisms to strategies for strengthening faculty and student capacity. The discussion was dynamic and productive, reflecting both institutions’ shared commitment to advancing public health education in Indonesia.
This benchmarking visit served as a strategic platform for both institutions to exchange knowledge and strengthen academic networks. FPH UI remains committed to supporting the development of higher education in public health across Indonesia, in line with efforts to improve the quality and competitiveness of human resources in the health sector. (wrk)