The Faculty of Dentistry, Hasanuddin University (UNHAS) successfully hosted the Intercontinental Partnership Summit in Dentistry 2026, held in conjunction with the 3rd International Dental Summer Course (IDSC) 2026 from 22 -26 July 2026. The five-day event brought together distinguished academics, researchers and institutional leaders from Asia, the United States and beyond to strengthen international collaboration in dental education, research, innovation and academic capacity building. The summit served as a strategic platform for developing long-term partnerships among leading dental institutions while fostering collaborative initiatives that support the internationalization agenda of the Faculty of Dentistry, UNHAS.
The event welcomed distinguished delegates from internationally recognized institutions, including Professor Azeez Butali from The University of Iowa, United States; Prof. Dr. Nor Adinar Baharuddin, Professor Dr. Noor Hayaty Binti Abu Kasim, Dr. Ainol Haniza Binti Kherul Anuwar, and Dr. Alias Bin Abd Aziz from Universiti Malaya, Malaysia; Prof. Dr. Siti Lailatul Akma Zainuddin from Manipal University College Melaka (MUCM); Ananda Astrini Senel (née Muhammad) from Iowa State University; Prof. Takeyasu Maeda from The Nippon Dental University, Japan; and Dr. Tanit Arunratanothai from Chulalongkorn University, Thailand.One of the summit’s major highlights was the visit of Professor Azeez Butali from The University of Iowa, marking an important milestone
in strengthening the strategic partnership between The University of Iowa and the Faculty of Dentistry, UNHAS. Discussions focused on initiating collaborative research in oral and craniofacial sciences, expanding university-wide partnerships and establishing future opportunities for faculty exchange and career development programs for junior academics.
During his visit, Professor Butali met several research groups at the Faculty of Dentistry, including members of UNHAS’s Thematic Research Groups, to explore potential collaborative research and share his expertise in genomics and translational research. He also delivered a guest lecture at the Hasanuddin University Dental Hospital entitled “Building a Successful Academic Career and the Role of Genomics in Modern Medicine,” which was attended by students, resident and faculty members. In addition, Professor Butali was invited to deliver an inspirational address at the UNHAS Graduation Ceremony held at Baruga A. P. Pettarani on July 25, 2026.
Another significant collaboration involved the delegation from the Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Malaya, led by Prof. Dr. Nor Adinar Baharuddin and colleagues. During their visit, the team worked closely with the Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, UNHAS, to conduct validity and reliability assessments of research instruments for an ongoing collaborative study on the cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Self-Reported Oral Health (SRoH) questionnaire for periodontal health. The activities, conducted at the Hasanuddin University Dental Hospital, represent an important milestone toward establishing high-quality multicenter epidemiological research between the two institutions.
As part of the academic exchange, Professor Dr. Noor Hayaty Binti Abu Kasim also delivered a guest lecture to faculty members, researchers, and students, sharing her expertise on contemporary developments in restorative dentistry and clinical research. The lecture provided an excellent platform for academic discussion and knowledge exchange between the two institutions. The visit further served as a catalyst for expanding collaborative research initiatives, with both universities expressing a shared commitment to developing joint research projects, scientific publications, researcher mobility, and other long-term academic partnerships in oral health sciences.
Complementing the series of international academic activities, the Faculty of Dentistry, UNHAS also hosted an international guest lecture entitled “Ethical Uses of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education.” The session was delivered by Ananda Astrini Senel (née Muhammad), Senior Assessment Research and Analysis Manager at Oxford University Press and a Ph.D. Candidate in Applied Linguistics and Technology at Iowa State University. The lecture explored the responsible and effective use of generative artificial intelligence in higher education, providing students and faculty members with valuable perspectives on the opportunities and ethical considerations of AI in teaching, learning, and academic assessment. The summit also featured Prof. Takeyasu Maeda from The Nippon Dental University, Dr. Tanit Arunratanothai from Chulalongkorn University, and Prof. Muhammad Ruslin, DDS, M.S., Ph.D., Vice Rector for Academic Affairs of UNHAS and a faculty member at the Faculty of Dentistry, UNHAS, as distinguished panelists during the 3rd International Dental Summer Course (IDSC) 2026.
The focus group discussion, themed “Tudang Sipulung: Harmonizing Global Dental Curricula Across Asia,” was moderated by Irfan Sugianto, DDS, M.Med.Ed., Ph.D., Dean of the Vocational School, UNHAS. Inspired by the Bugis-Makassar tradition of Tudang Sipulung, which emphasizes gathering together to deliberate and reach consensus, the session brought together international experts and IDSC participants to exchange perspectives on contemporary issues in global oral health, curriculum development, educational innovation, international research collaboration, and leadership in dentistry. The discussion fostered meaningful dialogue among participants from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds while highlighting the importance of regional cooperation in preparing future dental professionals to address global healthcare challenges. The International Dental Summer Course itself brought together dental students from diverse countries, including Pakistan, Türkiye, Jordan, Sudan, Yemen, Nigeria, the Philippines, Timor-Leste, Somalia, and Indonesia, creating a vibrant multicultural learning environment that promoted intercultural understanding and academic exchange among future oral health professionals.
Throughout the summit, participants discussed numerous opportunities for future collaboration, including joint research projects, student and faculty mobility programs, collaborative publications, postgraduate education, curriculum development, community oral health initiatives, and international grant applications. These discussions reaffirmed the Faculty’s commitment to building sustainable global partnerships that contribute to advancing dental science and improving oral health outcomes. The Intercontinental Partnership Summit in Dentistry 2026 reflects the Faculty of Dentistry, UNHAS’s strong commitment to becoming a globally connected institution that actively contributes to international academic excellence. By strengthening partnerships with leading universities across continents, the Faculty continues to expand opportunities for collaborative research, educational innovation, and the professional development of its students and academic staff.
As the summit concluded, participating institutions expressed their shared commitment to transforming the discussions into concrete collaborative programs, paving the way for impactful international partnerships that will benefit the global dental community in the years ahead. This Intercontinental Partnership Summit in Dentistry 2026 contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Most prominently, the initiative supports SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being by advancing dental research, oral health education, and collaborative initiatives aimed at improving oral health outcomes. It also supports SDG 4: Quality Education through international academic exchange, curriculum development, guest lectures, student mobility, and capacity building for students and academic staff. Furthermore, the summit strongly aligns with SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals by strengthening long-term institutional partnerships, collaborative research, academic mobility, and knowledge sharing among universities across different countries.
