Hasanuddin University (UNHAS) has officially commenced the 2026 National International Summer Course on Public Health (NISC-PH). Running from June 15 to July 11, 2026, this year’s program centers around the theme “Experience Public Health in South Sulawesi.” The initiative offers global students a deep dive into Indonesia’s healthcare ecosystem through a balanced mix of academic learning, field visits, community engagement, and cultural exploration.
To effectively blend foundational theory with hands-on practice, the summer course has been structured into a two-phase hybrid format. The first phase, which ran virtually from June 15 to June 24, provided participants with essential baseline knowledge regarding Indonesia’s public health challenges and institutional frameworks. The program has now transitioned into its second phase, a fully immersive offline experience running from June 28 to July 11. During this segment, students travel across key regions of South Sulawesi—including Makassar, Maros, and Soppeng—to directly observe grassroots health interventions, community-driven programs, and local healthcare delivery.
According to the organizing committee, the curriculum is intentionally designed to bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world application within Indonesia’s unique social and cultural landscape. The committee noted that the program is intended not just as a traditional learning environment, but as a transformative experience that allows future healthcare professionals to see how culture and community dynamics shape health outcomes. This year’s diverse international cohort brings together five participants from Mahidol University in Thailand, six from Soonchunhyang University in South Korea, and various international students currently enrolled in degree programs at UNHAS.
The academic curriculum itself bridges modern technical tools with community health, equipping students with practical skills in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), data analysis using R software, ergonomics within the informal labor sector, and healthcare system management. A standout element of NISC-PH 2026 is its reliance on local academic talent; the entire program is designed and spearheaded by faculty members from the Faculty of Public Health (FKM UNHAS), showcasing the institution’s robust field experience and research capabilities to a global audience.
The initiative has received strong institutional backing from UNHAS leadership, including Vice Rector for Academic and Student Affairs, Prof. drg. Muhammad Ruslin, and FKM UNHAS Dean, Prof. Sukri Palutturi. Prof. Palutturi emphasized that the summer course acts as a premier platform to showcase the faculty’s academic excellence and localized public health best practices to global allies. Beyond the classroom, the program serves as a catalyst for cross-cultural networking, planting the seeds for future regional research collaborations and aligning directly with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, 4, and 17. As the course moves toward its July 11 conclusion, it successfully advances UNHAS’s broader internationalization strategy, cementing the university’s status as a key Southeast Asian hub for public health education.
