Unhas Expands Nursing Collaboration with Japanese Universities

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - An Indonesian nursing faculty is deepening its international engagement through a new collaboration with three Japanese universities, aiming to strengthen academic quality, research capacity, and global exposure for students.

The Faculty of Nursing at Hasanuddin University (Unhas) has partnered with Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Okayama University, and Kanazawa University in a cross-border initiative designed to enhance learning standards and global competitiveness among students.

Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs at Unhas Faculty of Nursing, Syahrul, said in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, that the partnership opens opportunities for knowledge exchange, cross-cultural experience, and joint research.

“This, at the same time, is also a strategic step to building a productive and sustainable international academic atmosphere,” he said, as quoted by Antara.

Syahrul emphasized that developing joint research projects with the three partner universities is key to establishing long-term collaboration in the field of nursing. “The stronger our collaboration, the greater the opportunity for students to gain international experience and strengthen the academic environment as one of our strategic outcomes,” he explained.

From the Japanese side, Fusayo Kobayashi of Niigata University of Health and Welfare expressed appreciation for the academic interaction fostered during the program. She said direct engagement with Unhas students and faculty created constructive scientific dialogue and reinforced the foundation for future institutional cooperation.

Meanwhile, Head of the International Office at Unhas, Andi Masyitha Irwan, highlighted the university’s broad academic potential for wider and more integrated international collaboration schemes. She encouraged expanding similar programs to the doctoral level to further strengthen research partnerships and reputable scientific publications.

“Through active international engagement, participants not only gain academic experience but also cross-cultural learning that enriches their global perspectives,” Masyitha said.

The program, scheduled to run until March 17, 2026, includes a series of academic and clinical activities such as visits to teaching hospitals, community health centers, psychiatric hospitals, and wound care clinics.

Students are also participating in class sit-ins in Palliative Nursing, Critical Care Nursing, Community Nursing, Pediatric Nursing, and Maternity Nursing courses to gain a comprehensive understanding of nursing practice in Indonesia. ***