DENPASAR, INDONESIA — The Master of Public Health (MPH) Program at the Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, welcomed a delegation from the Australian National University (ANU) on 27–28 October 2026 to explore opportunities for future collaboration in postgraduate public health education, research, and community engagement.

The visit began with a meeting on 27 October with the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, and faculty representatives. The meeting was attended by the Dean, Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, representatives of the Faculty's International Cooperation Unit, and coordinators of the MPH and Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP). The ANU delegation included the Director of the School of Population Health and two academic staff members from the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health (NCEPH).

During the meeting, the Dean warmly welcomed the initiative and expressed support for strengthening academic collaboration between the two institutions. The discussion also highlighted the importance of establishing appropriate institutional agreements, such as a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Memorandum of Agreement (MoA), to provide a formal foundation for future joint activities.

More detailed academic discussions continued with the MPH Program on 27–28 October. Both institutions shared information about their postgraduate curricula, teaching approaches, and learning structures. Udayana University presented its MPH curriculum, including its three areas of concentration and field-based learning activities, while ANU introduced its postgraduate public health education programs.

The discussions identified several potential areas for collaboration, including:

• Guest lectures and joint learning activities.
• Student and academic exchanges as well as internship opportunities.
• The possibility of developing a double-degree program.
• Exploration of funding mechanisms, collaborative research, and joint scientific publications.

An important principle emphasized during the discussions was the need to develop a mutually beneficial partnership. Both institutions recognized that future collaboration should create meaningful opportunities for students, academic staff, and researchers at both universities, while drawing on their respective strengths and experiences.

The visit represents a positive step toward strengthening international academic engagement and expanding opportunities for postgraduate public health education at Udayana University. Through potential collaboration with ANU, the MPH Program aims to enrich students' learning experiences, promote academic and research exchanges, and strengthen public health capacity building in Indonesia and the wider region.

Concrete Next Steps: Toward formalizing the proposed collaboration, Udayana University shared a draft Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the ANU delegation for further review and consideration. The ANU representatives expressed their commitment to following up on the draft and communicating the next steps. Both institutions look forward to continuing the dialogue and developing a mutually beneficial and sustainable academic partnership.

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