Bangkok — A total of 15 students from the Master of Nursing Program, Faculty of Medicine, Diponegoro University (UNDIP), Class of 2024, participated in the International Immersion Program themed “Strengthening Health Care Services in Community-Based Care” held at the Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, from September 22 to 26, 2025.
The program aimed to strengthen the internationalization of the nursing curriculum and broaden postgraduate students’ insights into community-based nursing services. Throughout the five-day program, students were accompanied by two faculty members — Dr. Fitria Handayani, S.Kp., M.Kep., Sp.KMB., Head of the Master of Nursing Program, and Megah Andriany, M.Kep., Sp.Kom., Ph.D.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Fitria Handayani emphasized that the immersion program represents a strategic initiative by the Master of Nursing Program to prepare graduates with global competence, critical thinking skills, and cultural sensitivity.
“Through this program, students directly learn from Thailand’s public health system and gain exposure to innovative approaches to community nursing practice. This experience provides valuable insight for enhancing the quality of nursing care in Indonesia,” she stated.
The International Immersion Program began with an official welcoming ceremony and participant introduction, followed by a series of academic lectures discussing Thailand’s national health profile, modern healthcare systems, and public health practices. Students gained in-depth knowledge of Thailand’s community health approaches, including maternal and child health programs, adolescent pregnancy prevention initiatives, and the crucial role of nurses in promoting community well-being.
In addition to classroom-based learning, participants conducted field visits to Bueng Yi Tho Medical and Rehabilitation Center, where they observed community-based elderly care practices, and to Ratchaphiphat Hospital, where they explored urban health services and palliative care systems.
Subsequent academic sessions further delved into the life-course approach in family nursing and occupational nursing practices, enriching students’ perspectives on holistic and sustainable nursing care delivery.
Through this International Immersion Program, the UNDIP Master of Nursing students gained cross-cultural experiences and a first-hand understanding of Thailand’s public health system—an experience expected to inspire the advancement of community nursing practices in Indonesia.
The program also reaffirmed the commitment of the Master of Nursing Program, Faculty of Medicine, Diponegoro University, to developing globally recognized nursing education and preparing professional nurses who are adaptive, collaborative, and competitive at the international level. [AN]