The Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia hosted the Faculty of Dentistry, UiTM Beyond Borders: Dental Academic & Cultural Mobility Exchange 2026, held from July 13–24, 2026. The program served as an international community engagement (KKN) conversion program, providing students with valuable opportunities to broaden their academic knowledge, strengthen their clinical competencies, enhance their research experience, and gain international exposure to dental education and health care systems in Malaysia.
Eight undergraduate dental students from Hasanuddin University (UNHAS) participated in the two-week program: Nadjwa Aulia Irmanto, Yaumil Khairiyah Burhan, Anggun Melati, Junira Mutiarani, Mutia Afifah Zahra, Ingrid Angriani, Zharfa Adina Amani, and Mukhlisah A. Namsum. Throughout the program, the students were supervised by Dr. Nurul Ain Ramlan, as the program supervisor at the Faculty of Dentistry, UiTM.
As part of the program, on Saturday, 18 July 2026, the students participated in a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Program at Rumah Penyayang Darul Ilmi, Gombak, aimed to promote oral health awareness through educational and interactive activities. The program began in the morning with a light exercise session, followed by breakfast. The students then conducted an oral health education session covering dental and oral hygiene, the functions of teeth, recommended tooth-brushing frequency, foods and drinks that should be limited to maintain good oral health and the consequences of poor oral hygiene, including dental caries, gum disease, and bad breath.
The session was followed by a live demonstration of proper tooth-brushing techniques, allowing participants to practice the recommended methods. The program continued with interactive games, including The Floor Is Lava, Kain Berantai Pelikat, Trust and Pass, and Bahu, Lutut, Botol. These activities reinforced the oral health messages while encouraging teamwork, communication, and active participation. The educational activities concluded in the afternoon with a prize presentation, closing session, and group documentation.
Following the closing ceremony, the students participated in a gotong royong (community clean-up) by cleaning the mosque, guest house, kitchen, and toilet facilities. The activity contributed to creating a cleaner and healthier environment while strengthening the students’ sense of social responsibility and commitment to community service. Therefore, this program supports SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being, particularly by promoting oral health awareness and healthy hygiene practices among community members. Through health education, practical demonstrations, and community engagement, the students contributed to improving knowledge and awareness of preventive oral health care. The program also supports SDG 4: Quality Education by providing students with experiential learning opportunities and enabling them to share health knowledge with the community, while the community clean-up activity contributes to SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation by promoting a cleaner and healthier living environment.
