Bangkok, UNHAS.TV – As part of its commitment to academic internationalization, Universitas Hasanuddin (Unhas) has sent 31 postgraduate students from the Environmental Health program to Mahidol University, Thailand. Held from July 7 to 8, 2025, the visit included a benchmarking program and an intensive training focused on “Environmental Health Technology, Management, and Sustainability”, hosted by one of Southeast Asia’s leading public health institutions.
Over the course of two full days, participants engaged in dynamic academic discussions, expert presentations, and hands-on workshops that explored innovative approaches to sustainable environmental health management. A highlight of the program was a workshop on Health Risk Assessment (HRA) led by Assoc. Prof. Suphaphat Kwonpongsagoon, Ph.D, a distinguished scholar from the Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University.
In her session, Prof. Kwonpongsagoon emphasized the critical role of data-driven innovation in addressing environmental health challenges, particularly within the Southeast Asian context. She explained how the HRA framework serves as a foundational tool for identifying, assessing, and managing health risks related to environmental factors—offering a comprehensive basis for policy and effective interventions.
Laying the Groundwork for Deeper Academic Collaboration
Prof. Dr. Anwar Daud, M.Kes, Head of the Environmental Health Postgraduate Program at Unhas, highlighted the relevance of this benchmarking initiative in enhancing curriculum quality and research development. He noted promising opportunities for joint research, especially in the areas of environmental monitoring technologies, sustainable management systems, and studies on chemical and microbial hazards.
Prof. Anwar, who earned his doctoral degree from Mahidol University, added that the institution’s extensive experience could serve as a model for advancing Unhas’s own graduate programs.
Echoing this sentiment, Prof. Dr. Sukri Palutturi, Ph.D, Dean of the Faculty of Public Health at Unhas, stated that the visit served as a valuable platform for academic exchange between the two institutions. He expressed hope that the initiative would pave the way for broader academic collaboration—ranging from student and faculty exchange, joint research projects, to collaborative scientific publications.
Advancing Internationalization and SDG Commitment
Renowned for its commitment to innovation and sustainability in public health education, Mahidol University provided an ideal setting for this international academic engagement. The benchmarking activity aligns with Unhas’s ongoing efforts to support its internationalization agenda and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in environmental health.
This program represents a concrete step in Unhas’s mission to innovate and lead in creating healthier and more sustainable environments. The initiative, championed by Prof. Dr. Anwar Daud, SKM., M.Kes., EHS and Prof. Anwar Mallongi, SKM., MSc., Ph.D, is expected to expand further—strengthening Unhas’s role as a World-Class University committed to global collaboration and excellence.