In an effort to initiate and implement international cooperation with Yonsei University and Ewha Women University in South Korea, the teaching team from the FIKES UB Department of Nursing embarked on a visit to the country. Led by Dr. Ns. Kumboyono, S.Kep., M.Kep., Sp.Kom., the delegation included Prof. Dr. Titin Andri Wihastuti, S.Kp., M.Kes., Ns. Septi Dewi Rachmawati, S.Kep., M.Ng., Ns. Evi Harwiati Ningrum, S.Kep., MHSM., and Ns. Shila Wisnasari, S.Kep., M.Biomed. The visit, conducted on October 30–31, 2024, aimed to establish research innovation collaboration in nursing and to broaden international academic networks.
The main agenda of the visit was a Research Fellowship with Professor JuHee Lee, PhD, APRN, RN, FAAN from Yonsei University College of Nursing (YUCON), which is part of the 2024 Dosen Berkarya (DOKAR) Program for the Bachelor of Nursing Science study program. According to the QS 2024 rankings, Yonsei University is positioned 76th in the World University Rankings, and in the QS subject ranking for Nursing, it is among the top 51–100 institutions. Moreover, under the Korean government’s BK21-4 program, Yonsei University College of Nursing’s “S-LEAP Global Nurse Scientist Program” was selected as an Excellent Education Research Centre. Professor JuHee Lee’s Scopus-indexed publications total 81 documents, which have been cited in 1,001 documents, and she holds a Scopus h-index of 17.
Dr. Ns. Kumboyono, S.Kep., M.Kep., Sp.Kom. explained, “YUCON is a pioneering institution for professional nursing in Korea with a high research reputation, making it an ideal collaborative partner for this Research Fellowship. The activities include research, manuscript drafting, submission to reputable international journals, and dissemination on an international level. The outputs of these activities contribute to achieving the key performance indicators (IKU) of our study program by increasing both the quantity and quality of publications and presentations at international scientific meetings.”
Within this research collaboration, the team has developed an innovative intervention—exercise training aimed at improving the health of smokers, specifically enhancing cardiovascular status, sleep quality, and weight management. As is well known, the number of smokers in Indonesia remains high. In 2023, 28.62% of Indonesians aged 15 and above smoked, a 0.36% increase from 28.26% in 2022. Smokers are at high risk for health issues, including cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The health problems related to smoking not only affect individuals but also increase the national burden of financing for the prevention and management of smoking-related diseases. This scenario motivates the team to contribute towards reducing the number of smokers and mitigating the associated health risks.
In addition to focusing on research and publications, the FIKES UB Department of Nursing team also leveraged this visit to launch a Student Inbound program with Ewha Women University. This program aims to introduce Indonesia’s unique culturally-based healthcare approach, particularly from East Java. During the visit, Ns. Evi, who also serves as the Chair of the International Relations Office (IRO) at FIKES UB, stated that FIKES UB is ready to host students from Ewha Women University to showcase culturally-based healthcare services. Indonesia—and East Java in particular—offers unique cultural perspectives in delivering patient care, an aspect that is being promoted to Ewha Women University.
This visit is a tangible demonstration of the FIKES UB Department of Nursing’s commitment to supporting Universitas Brawijaya’s vision of internationalization. Through this strategic collaboration, a close and productive relationship is expected to develop between the FIKES UB Department of Nursing and South Korean educational institutions, notably Yonsei University College of Nursing and Ewha Women University. Not only does this collaboration strengthen FIKES UB’s global standing, but it also makes a significant contribution to the development of nursing innovation and public health at both local and international levels. With a spirit of collaboration and innovation, the FIKES UB Department of Nursing continues to move forward, ushering in positive changes that will impact future generations.
