Number of Citations: 0

Submitted: 8 May 2024
Accepted: 26 August 2024
Published online: 1 October, TAPS 2024, SP01, 8-10
https://doi.org/10.29060/TAPS.2024-SP01/SP003

Ari Fahrial Syam

Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia

I. INTRODUCTION

The history of medical education development in Indonesia could not be separated from the establishment of Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia (FMUI) as the first medical school in the country. The name of the institution itself was established in 1950, yet the first medical school was established in 1898 under the name STOVIA (School tot Opleiding voor Indische Artsen). For more than a century, FMUI has constantly been the centre of medical education and research in Indonesia. FMUI has borne more than twenty percent of medical doctors in Indonesia which is aligned with its vision to be the centre of medical knowledge and technology so that it can contribute to national and global development (Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Indonesia, 2022).

FMUI has such a complete educational program varying from medical doctor to doctorate degree. There are four masters, 32 specialist doctors, 7 subspecialists, and 3 doctorate study programs to date. FMUI also has international class study programs in collaboration with University of Melbourne, Monash University, and University of Newcastle Upon Tyne so the students are able to achieve a double degree at the end. With more than 120 active professors, more than 5,000 students per year, and more than tens of thousands alumni, FMUI stays consistent being the best medical institution in Indonesia to date. FMUI is ranked 201-250 based on QS World University Ranking by Subject Medicine 2024, 501-600 based on THE World University Ranking by Subject Clinical and Health 2024, and 588th World Rank EduRank Subject Medicine 2024 (Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Indonesia, 2022).

II. ASEAN MEDICAL DEANS’ SUMMIT (AMDS)

The Southeast Asian Medical School Network Initiative is a collaboration between Medical Faculties in Southeast Asian countries to create excellence in medical education and increase biomedical research capabilities that can compete globally. To reach that goal, there are several activities such as development of harmonised curricula, collaborative networks in biomedical research, and academic exchange programs for students and faculty. Annually to discuss the progress of their goal, ASEAN Medical Deans’ Summit is held annually at member faculties (ASEAN Medical School Network, 2024).

The ASEAN Medical Deans’ Summit (AMDS) has significance since it serves as the catalyst for advancing medical education in the member states of ASEAN in terms of quality, relevance, and accessibility. The summit helps to enhance excellence in healthcare delivery throughout the area and harmonise standards for medical education by promoting conversations on research, faculty training, curriculum development, and healthcare delivery. Additionally, it gives medical institutions a venue for networking and cooperation, creating alliances that promote innovation and progress in the field of healthcare (ASEAN Medical School Network, 2024).

III. FACULTY OF MEDICINE, UNIVERSITAS INDONESIA (FMUI) CONTRIBUTIONS

FMUI is one of the founders of ASEAN Medical Deans’ Summit (AMDS) which initially was established in 2012 at Faculty of Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok. Along with other deans of ten ASEAN countries, FMUI consistently participates in annual deans’ summits to establish and reinforce a network of collaborations among all participating medical schools from this region. FMUI also contributed as a host for the 5th AMDS and the 1st ASEAN Students Collaborative Project (ASCP) which was held on 26th – 28th July 2016. In this AMDS’ edition, there were several collaboration agreements on medical education and research formulation, including development of medical education curricula, academic quality assurance, prevalence disease mapping research, and initiation of various studies toward health status and policy (Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Indonesia, 2016).

At that meeting, FMUI dean former, Prof. Dr. dr. Ratna Sitompul, SpM(K), also presented a report regarding the 1st ASCP event. FMUI initiated this research-based event which was done by students. This effort was done in order to encourage all medical students from 12 best universities in ASEAN to be capable of identifying their contribution in various systematic, planned, and structured community services and to collaborate in community-based research projects. The students were asked to produce a community-based project in their respective countries, thereafter assigned to create the emerging health issues mapping. It was expected that through this event, medical student collaboration in the ASEAN region would keep improving. The results of the project were then presented at the peak of the ASCP event which took place on 26-28 July 2016 at Hulu Cai Camp, Ciawi, Bogor. In general, this event was expected to be part of preparations for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) era and increase the competitiveness of both medical education institutions and medical students as prospective medical graduates in the future. Prof Ari also become the President of the ASEAN Medical Schools Network from 2018 to 2020 (Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Indonesia, 2016).

On the 12th AMDS which was held in 2023 at Universiti Malaya, FMUI Dean, Prof. Dr. dr. Ari Fahrial Syam, SpPD-KGEH presented a topic concerning ASEAN Collaborative Learning. Vice Dean Prof. Dr. dr. Dwiana Ocviyanti, SpOG(K) also participated at the meeting by presenting a topic regarding “Coaching in Learner-centered Medical Education”. (Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Indonesia, 2016).

Along with FMUI contributions in AMDS, FMUI actively participated in the AAHCI Association of Academic Health Centres International. In 2023, the Executive Director of AAHCI awarded Prof. Ari with the AAHCI Distinguished Service Award for his contributions as Regional Ambassador from 2018 until 2013. FMUI also participates in the China-ASEAN Medical Education Symposium & Roundtable Discussion on Establishing China-ASEAN University Consortium on Medical Education, Research, and Healthcare, which aims to strengthen medical and health cooperation for countries along the Belt and Road Initiative.

IV. IMPACT OF FMUI’S CONTRIBUTIONS

FMUI is actively involved in the development of medical education and research in the Southeast Asia region. The real form that can be seen is the formation of the FKUI Medical Education Department which was established with the aim of becoming a centre for science, technology and culture in the field of medical education and health professions that is superior and competitive, through efforts to educate the life of the nation to improve the welfare of society so as to contribute to development. Indonesia and the world. This department also routinely publishes scientific journals which have helped the development of medical education in Indonesia (IMERI FKUI, 2022).

Furthermore, FKUI also built the Indonesian Medical Education and Research Institute (IMERI) Building as a means for academics and researchers to develop transdisciplinary research. The purpose of building this building is to answer the challenges that will arise in the future, especially in the health and medical fields. Currently, IMERI FKUI provides various facilities such as the Big Data Center, Bio Bank, Bio Informatica, Animal Research Facilities, and Molecular Biology and Proteomics Facilities (FKUI, 2021). The other form of commitment to the development of science, FKUI has published 4560 Scopus indexed publications from the last 5 years (FKUI, 2023).

V. CONCLUSION

ASEAN Medical Deans’ Summit emphasises how vital it is for the medical communities of the ASEAN countries to maintain the relations between medical faculties and working together. FMUI commits to actively participate in these platforms. For the development of medical curriculum and the benefit of the people living in the ASEAN, AMDS must work together to face healthcare challenges, raise the bar for medical education, and improve healthcare delivery through collaboration, exchanging best practices, and using collective expertise.

Notes on Contributors

Ari Fahrial Syam pitched the idea, wrote the draft, and actively revised the draft. This manuscript is built on the previous collaboration and cited from the official institutional website.

Acknowledgement

No technical help and/or financial and material support or contributions were received in the preparation of this manuscript.

Funding

No funding source to declare.

Declaration of Interest

The author declares that there are no possible conflicts of interest, including financial, consultant, institutional, and other relationships that might lead to bias or a conflict of interest.

References

ASEAN Medical School Network. (2024). About us. https://ASEANmedschool.com/index.php/about-us/

IMERI Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Indonesia. (2022). Core Facilities. https://imeri.fk.ui.ac.id

Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Indonesia. (2023). Rekapitulasi Scopus.

Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Indonesia. (2021). Departemen Pendidikan Kedokteran. https://fk.ui.ac.id/departemen/departemen-pendidikan-kedokteran.html

Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Indonesia. (2022). Sejarah. https://fk.ui.ac.id/sejarah.html

Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Indonesia. (2022). FKUI Dalam Angka. https://fk.ui.ac.id/fkui-dalam-angka.html

Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Indonesia. (2016). FKUI Tuan Rumah The 5th ASEAN Medical Deans’ Summit dan The 1st ASEAN Students Collaborative Project. https://fk.ui.ac.id/berita/fkui-tuan-rumah-the-5th-ASEAN-medical-deans-summit-dan-the-1st-ASEAN-students-collaborative-project.html

*Ari Fahrial Syam
Jl. Salemba Raya No.6,
Kenari, Kec. Senen, Kota Jakarta Pusat,
Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 10430
+62 21 3929651
Email: ari.fahrial@fk.ui.ac.id