MAKASSAR – A nurse is expected to have not only solid clinical skills but also an understanding of how health care systems work in different contexts. Amid health challenges that are increasingly complex and global in nature, learning from different health systems is an important part of shaping nursing professionals who are adaptive, think critically, and are ready to provide care based on community needs.
Students of the Faculty of Nursing (FKep) at Unhas took advantage of this learning opportunity when they hosted an academic visit by 21 students from the Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies (ALCNS), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS). The two institutions exchanged knowledge, experiences, and perspectives on nursing education and health care systems in Indonesia and Singapore.
Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs of the Unhas Faculty of Nursing, Syahrul Said, S.Kep., Ns., M.Kes., Ph.D., said the visit was a moment to build closer academic ties while opening opportunities for sustained collaboration.
“We are not only welcoming the students but also opening a space for cultural and experiential exchange between Singapore and Indonesia, particularly Makassar. We are building a new friendship and hope this relationship can grow into collaboration in the future,” Syahrul explained.
Interaction among students from the two countries offered the chance to learn about each other’s approaches to nursing education, clinical practice, and the health care systems developing in each country. This can enrich students’ perspectives in understanding the role of nurses as an important part of a continually evolving health system.
The program began with an introduction to the Unhas Faculty of Nursing through a screening of the institution’s profile video. The NUS delegation then visited Unhas TV and the Faculty of Medicine to see firsthand the academic environment and learning facilities that support health professions education.
Students from both institutions then took part in a discussion on health care systems in Indonesia and Singapore. The discussion helped students understand how policy, culture, and community needs shape nursing practice in each country.
The program continued with a skill exchange session that allowed students to share nursing practice skills and experiences. Besides strengthening technical competence, the session also trained cross-cultural communication, professional collaboration, and decision-making, which are important parts of modern evidence-based nursing.
Through this academic visit, the Unhas Faculty of Nursing has again strengthened its international network in education, research, and the exchange of lecturers and students. The visit was hosted at the Faculty of Nursing Building on Friday (17 July). (*/fkep/mir)
Editor: Ishaq Rahman
This article is an English translation of the original Indonesian report.