BANGKOK, THAILAND — The Master's Program in Public Health (PS MIKM / S2 IKM), Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, continues to strengthen its contribution to field epidemiology education through the participation of the Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) concentration in the 17th International FETP Training of Trainers (TOT) held in Bangkok, Thailand, from September 14–25, 2026.

Representing FETP Udayana University and FETP Indonesia, Sang Gede Purnama attended alongside three other delegates from Indonesia: Husni and Muammar Muslih from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, and Silvia Novike Arinta from the Blitar City Health Office. The presence of the Indonesian delegation reflects the collaborative nature of FETP Indonesia, bringing together academia, national health authorities, and regional health services to strengthen the field epidemiology workforce in Indonesia.

This international-level training was attended by approximately 22 participants from six countries in the region: Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Myanmar, and China. The training program received full support from the ASEAN+3 Field Epidemiology Training Network (FETN), WHO South-East Asia Regional Office (SEARO), U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the ASEAN-UK Health Security Partnership.

Official Information Poster for the 17th Batch International FETP Training of Trainers
Official Poster of the 17th Batch International FETP Training of Trainers (TOT).

This Training of Trainers was specifically designed to enhance the competencies required to educate, facilitate, and mentor field epidemiologists. In addition to theoretical learning sessions, participants actively engaged in various practical exercises, including:

  • Adult learning approaches, facilitation techniques, and mentoring.
  • Principles of constructive feedback to support participant learning and professional development.
  • Scientific communication, abstract writing, and manuscript writing using the teach-back method.
  • Leadership and team management in executing field epidemiology operations.
  • Epidemiological mentorship, surveillance evaluation, and outbreak investigation.

This multinational training environment provided a valuable opportunity for all participants to exchange experiences regarding the implementation of field epidemiology training across diverse national health systems[cite: 1]. Through interactive discussions and practical sessions, participants shared field-based learning strategies, mentoring approaches, scientific communication techniques, and strategies for addressing challenges in building a competent and responsive epidemiology workforce.

"Postgraduate public health education closely integrated with field-based epidemiology practice is key to training a workforce that is responsive to public health threats."

For the Master's Program in Public Health at Udayana University, this training holds strategic relevance for developing its FETP concentration. Through FETP Udayana, students and trainees are equipped with competencies in outbreak investigation, public health surveillance, epidemiological analysis, scientific communication, and public health threat response by working directly with health authorities and field practitioners.

Participation in this regional TOT is expected to further strengthen the teaching and mentoring processes within FETP Udayana[cite: 1]. The approaches and methodologies gained can be directly applied in classroom lectures, field supervision, mentoring, scientific communication, as well as the future development of trainers and mentors[cite: 1]. The benefits of this activity extend beyond individual participants, contributing to the institutional capacity building of S2 IKM Unud and broader efforts to strengthen FETP Indonesia's capacity.

The event also emphasized the importance of collaboration among higher education institutions, the Ministry of Health, local health offices, FETP Indonesia, and regional and international partners[cite: 1]. Such partnerships are essential to maintaining a sustainable field epidemiology workforce capable of effectively detecting, investigating, and responding to ongoing and emerging public health threats.

Through continued engagement with FETP Indonesia and regional FETP networks, the Master's Program in Public Health at Udayana University is committed to strengthening its role in preparing public health professionals and epidemiologists who can contribute to health security at local, national, and regional levels.