Eleven undergraduate students from the Faculty of Dentistry, Hasanuddin University (UNHAS) took part in the 2026 Overseas Elective Program at the Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore (NUS), from 13 to 24 July 2026. The students participated in two batches, with six (Adelia Mandapi Pabutungan, Daniashara Dafa, Habilah Nurul Inayah Nurdin, Intan Nuraini BR Ginting, Michelle Kelly Harijono, and Rizyanti Tenrisayu Rukka) attending from July 13–17 and five (Ainun Zhafirah Fitra, Putri Nurfadhilah Khaeruddin, Rahmah Amini, Siti Gheriya Suraya, and Siti Zaskia Ichsan) from 20–24 July. The program opened with a welcome from Associate Professor Wong Mun Loke, Vice Dean for Education and concluded with Associate Professor Fu Jia Hui, Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Education.
During the program, the students were introduced to NUS’s four-year undergraduate dental curriculum, teaching facilities, simulation laboratories and clinical training environment. They also joined academic activities alongside NUS dental students, providing them with an opportunity to experience the university’s approach to dental education. The participants attended Year 3 lectures in Internal Medicine, Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine, Pathology and Radiology (OMOPOR), Dental Public Health (DPH) and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS). They also took part in Year 4 Comprehensive Treatment Planning Seminars (CTPSM), Problem-Based Learning (PBL) sessions, and haptics simulation laboratories.
Clinical observations formed another key component of the program. Students observed patient care, clinical procedures and multidisciplinary treatment planning in operative dentistry, restorative dentistry, endodontics, periodontology, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry and removable prosthodontics. The experience gave them greater insight into evidence-based and patient-centered dental practice in an international clinical setting.
The program also contributed to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Through international mobility and exposure to clinical education at NUS, the program supported student learning while strengthening academic and professional connections between the two institutions. Furthermore, The Overseas Elective Program provided UNHAS students with valuable international exposure and opportunities to broaden their academic and clinical perspectives. Their engagement with NUS faculty, staff, and students also further strengthened the partnership between the two faculties and contributed to their development as globally oriented dental professionals.
