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, professional exchange, and meaningful community outreach.
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, together with faculty members. Led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sanisah Saidi, the session explored mutual interests in research collaboration, curriculum development, and community health projects.
Later the same day, two specialised guest lectures were delivered to more than 100 nursing undergraduate and postgraduate students at Universitas Syiah Kuala.
Nurturing Research Capacity
The second day featured a research and publication workshop at AKIMBA conducted by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sanisah Saidi. The session aimed to empower local nursing and non-nursing educators with practical knowledge on initiating collaborative research, securing academic publications, and sustaining international academic networks.
A total of 30 lecturers participated actively in the workshop, creating an important platform for exchanging research ideas and exploring future scholarly partnerships between the participating institutions.
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 while fostering a supportive and open environment for discussion.
The programme demonstrated how international nursing collaboration can extend beyond academic exchange to create direct community impact through health promotion, professional development, research capacity building, and culturally responsive engagement.
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 and encouraging professional discourse on emerging nursing and healthcare issues.
These lectures fostered professional discourse on emerging healthcare issues, geriatric care, and supportive nursing practices.
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 insights into comparative approaches in home care delivery and highlighted opportunities for the joint development of culturally contextualised nursing practices that respond effectively to community needs.
Strengthening Regional Ties for a Healthier Future
This international engagement not only deepened academic partnerships between IIUM and Indonesian institutions but also demonstrated the important role of nursing education in community empowerment and global citizenship. It exemplifies the 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.