Denpasar, August 2026 — The Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University welcomed Associate Professor Rafat from the Australian National University (ANU) for a three-day academic visit from 13–15 August 2026. The visit brought together faculty members and students through a series of discussions, a guest lecture, and a publication workshop aimed at strengthening teaching innovation, field-based learning, and research publication.

Academic Discussion: Teaching Response to AI and Optimising Field Assignments

The visit began on 13 August with a faculty discussion on emerging challenges in higher education, particularly the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in student learning and assessment. The discussion explored how academic programs can respond to AI while maintaining fair and academically honest assessment, including the need to reconsider assessment approaches rather than relying solely on conventional assignments.

The discussion also examined how field-based student assignments could generate greater academic value. Beyond fulfilling course requirements, well-designed field assignments can provide students with opportunities to develop analytical and scientific writing skills and potentially produce publishable work. Strategies discussed included creating more structured pathways from student assignments to manuscripts, integrating publication into assessment mechanisms, and encouraging or requiring submission of selected high-quality outputs.

Guest Lecture: Aged Care, Disability, and Migrant Health Services in Australia

On 14 August, Associate Professor Rafat delivered a guest lecture to undergraduate and Master of Public Health students at the Postgraduate Building, Udayana University. Her lecture, “Aged Care, Disability and Migrant Health Services in Australia: Good Practices and Current Challenges,” introduced students to the organisation and challenges of health and social care services for ageing populations, people with disabilities, and migrant communities in Australia.

The lecture provided an international perspective on how health systems respond to the needs of populations that may face particular barriers in accessing appropriate services. It also encouraged students to reflect on how experiences from Australia can inform discussions on equity, inclusion, and health service development in the Indonesian context.

Scientific Writing Workshop: Transforming Field Reports into Journal Manuscripts

The three-day visit concluded on 15 August with a scientific writing workshop focusing on transforming students’ field assignments into manuscripts suitable for journal publication. The workshop involved medical students undertaking their clinical rotation at the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University.

As part of the rotation, students conduct family visits involving households in which a family member is experiencing a disease or other health problem. The assignment allows students to apply the principles of family medicine, considering not only the patient's clinical condition but also family, behavioural, social, and environmental factors that may influence health and disease. Findings from these visits are currently documented as case reports.

Drawing on her experience as a former editor of an international scientific journal, Associate Professor Rafat guided students and faculty members through practical strategies for transforming these field reports into stronger scientific manuscripts. The workshop discussed how to identify a meaningful scientific message from a case, develop an appropriate manuscript structure, strengthen the discussion using relevant evidence, and prepare the work for journal submission.

The visit also opened opportunities for continued academic exchange between Udayana University and ANU, particularly in developing innovative approaches to teaching and assessment, strengthening field-based education, and creating more systematic pathways to encourage students and faculty members to transform academic and field activities into scientific publications.