The visiting students— Atalie June Artanti, Annaas Firdaus Asyidiq, Nabilla Putri, and Divana Angela Citra Frilia— spent one full semester at IIUM Kuantan, beginning their journey on 1st February 2025 and completing it on 17th July 2025.
During their time in Malaysia, they were fully integrated into IIUM’s Year 2 Nursing cohort (Unova Batch), studying and working alongside local nursing students.
Peer Learning and Academic Integration
To enhance peer learning and foster cultural exchange, the Brawijaya students were grouped with Section 9 IIUM Nursing students, namely Muhammad Amar Naushad Kamal Arifin, Arisya Elyana Ahmad Fairuz, Siti Khairiah Musa, Siti Masyitah Ibrahim, and Muhammad Shah Ikmal Junaidi.
This integration allowed them to collaborate closely on academic tasks, clinical postings and various nursing-related activities, strengthening both academic and personal bonds throughout the semester.
18 Weeks of Clinical Attachment at SASMEC @IIUM
Over the course of 18 weeks of clinical attachment at SASMEC @IIUM, the visiting students gained valuable hands-on experience through four key nursing practice modules:
Clinical Training and Academic Support
Under the academic supervision of the Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, the visiting students joined all clinical sessions, skill laboratories and even participated in the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) together with IIUM nursing students.
Their clinical training and attachment were well coordinated by the dedicated nursing officers and staff nurses of the Kulliyyah of Nursing, namely Sr. Nurul Aisyah Safie, Sr. Wan Suraya Wan Kamarudin, and Sr. Nor Haslin Farahin Abdul Hashim.
Their overall academic welfare throughout the mobility programme was guided by their appointed caretaker, Dr. Haliza Hasan.
Experiencing Malaysia Beyond the Classroom
Beyond the academic and clinical aspects, the students also had the opportunity to explore the beauty and culture of Malaysia during their free time.
In Kuantan, they enjoyed visits to Teluk Cempedak Beach, Balok Beach, Batu Hitam Beach, Sungai Pandan Waterfall and East Coast Mall. They also travelled to Kuala Lumpur, where they experienced city highlights including KLCC, Bukit Bintang, Masjid Jamek and Central Market.
These experiences provided meaningful cultural insights and memorable moments that complemented their professional learning journey in Malaysia.
Through their semester-long placement, the students experienced nursing education beyond the conventional classroom by combining structured academic learning, clinical practice, peer collaboration, professional assessment and cultural immersion within the IIUM learning environment.
Head, Department of Medical Surgical Nursing
Kulliyyah of Nursing, IIUM
This mobility programme not only enhanced the students’ clinical competencies but also promoted cross-cultural exchange, mutual respect and a deeper understanding of nursing practices within different healthcare settings.
It demonstrated the value of international collaboration in enriching nursing education and strengthening global professional networks. The successful completion of this semester-long attachment highlights the strong partnership between IIUM Malaysia and Universitas Brawijaya Indonesia. Both institutions share a commitment to advancing nursing education and fostering opportunities for students to gain meaningful international exposure.
Building Future Nurses Beyond Borders
Moving forward, the Kulliyyah of Nursing hopes to continue and expand such initiatives, creating more pathways for nursing students from both Malaysia and Indonesia to learn, share and grow together.
Through these academic exchanges, future nurses will not only develop their clinical expertise but also broaden their cultural perspectives, contributing to a more connected, compassionate and globally responsive healthcare community.