July 18-22, 2025
by Muhammad Farhan Mahmud & Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sanisah Saidi
Location: Banda Aceh, Indonesia.
The Kulliyyah of Nursing, IIUM recently completed a five-day International Collaborative Community Engagement Mobility Programme in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, aimed at strengthening academic partnerships, advancing nursing education, and supporting underserved communities through impactful health promotion initiatives. Held from 18th to 22nd July 2025, the visit was led by a team of five esteemed academics from KON, namely Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sanisah Saidi, Dr. Siti Hajar Mohamed Zain, Dr. Siti Nur Illiani Jaafar, Dr. Che Azunie Che Abdullah and Dr. Suhana Muhamad. The programme involved key collaborations with Akademi Keperawatan Kesdam Iskandar Muda Banda Aceh (AKIMBA), Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK), and the Rumoh Seujahtera Aneuk Nanggroe (RSAN) in Aceh Besar, providing a multifaceted platform for scholarly engagement and community outreach.
Day 1: Laying Foundations for Academic Collaboration
The delegation’s itinerary began with a strategic meeting and discussion session at AKIMBA with Mayor Ckm Drg. Wahyu Fajar Dwinanto, Director of AKIMBA, along with faculty members. Led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sanisah Saidi, the session explored mutual interests in areas of research collaboration, curriculum development, and community health projects. Later the same day, two specialised guest lectures were delivered to more than 100 nursing undergraduates and postgraduates at Universitas Syiah Kuala:
– Dr. Siti Nur Illiani Jaafar presented “Strengthening Self-Management Tailored Intervention Approach for Chronic Kidney Disease Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis.”
– Dr. Che Azunie Che Abdullah shared insights on “Enhancing Clinical Competency Through Reflective Practice in Nursing Education.”
Day 2: Nurturing Research Capacity
The second day featured a research and publication workshop at AKIMBA, conducted by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sanisah Saidi, aimed at empowering local nursing and non-nursing educators with practical knowledge on how to embark on collaborative research, secure publications, and sustain international academic networks. A total of 30 lecturers participated actively in this session.
Day 3: Community Outreach at RSAN Aceh Besar
A hallmark of the programme was its third-day community engagement initiative at the Rumoh Seujahtera Aneuk Nanggroe, a care home for at-risk youth in Aceh Besar. The IIUM team conducted interactive workshops on sexual and reproductive health as well as smoking cessation for 50 teenagers, equipping them with vital knowledge to make informed health choices and fostering a supportive, open environment for discussion.
Day 4: Sharing Expertise through Public Lectures
On the fourth day, a series of public lectures was delivered to final-year AKIMBA nursing students, showcasing diverse healthcare perspectives:
– Dr. Che Azunie Che Abdullah – “The Importance of Social Support for Self-Management Among Patients with Nasopharyngeal Cancer”
– Dr. Siti Hajar Mohamed Zain – “Home Care Nursing: The Way Forward”
– Dr. Suhana Muhamad – “CBD-Related Infections”
– Dr. Siti Nur Illiani Jaafar – “Well-Being of Older People”
These lectures fostered professional discourse on emerging healthcare issues, geriatric care, and supportive nursing practices.
Day 5: Knowledge Exchange on Home Care Practices
The programme concluded with a focused discussion on home care nursing models between Dr. Siti Hajar Mohamed Zain and Dosen Fakhruddin of AKIMBA. The exchange offered valuable insight into comparative approaches in home care delivery, highlighting opportunities for joint development of culturally contextualised nursing practices.
Strengthening Regional Ties for a Healthier Future
This international engagement not only deepened academic partnerships between IIUM and Indonesian institutions but also demonstrated the role of nursing education in community empowerment and global citizenship. It exemplifies Kulliyyah of Nursing’s commitment to the university’s mission of integration, Islamisation, internationalisation, and comprehensive excellence. The success of this programme lays a strong foundation for future collaborative initiatives in research, education, and service, forging sustainable impact across borders for the betterment of healthcare systems in Southeast Asia.