The internationalization of dental education is no longer merely discourse. For five days, January 19–23, 2026, two students from the Professional Program of the Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FKG UGM), participated in a Student Exchange Program at the National University of Singapore (NUS), directly immersing themselves in academic and clinical practice at one of Asia’s leading academic centers. The program marks a concrete effort by an Indonesian university to strengthen global competitiveness through cross-border learning experiences.
The two FKG UGM students—Nabila Amelia Putri and Annisa Zahro Nugroho—were accompanied by faculty member Dr. drg. Sri Budi Barunawati, M.Kes., Sp.Pros.(K). They engaged in an intensive academic agenda: clinical observations, mini lectures, thematic seminars, problem-based learning (PBL) discussions, and introductions to NUS educational facilities and laboratories. This learning model provided students the opportunity to directly observe the integration of theory, clinical ethics, and technology in Singapore’s dental health services.
FROM LECTURE HALL TO CLINIC
From the first day, participants were introduced to the safety system and teaching facilities of the NUS Faculty of Dentistry before entering observation sessions in undergraduate and professional clinics. In the following days, students rotated through observations in restorative dentistry, periodontology, endodontics, prosthodontics, pediatric dentistry, and special care dentistry. This cross-disciplinary exposure demonstrated how clinical standards, patient service workflows, and case-based approaches are consistently applied within an international educational environment.
Beyond observation, students attended lectures in internal medicine, behavioral science, oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS), and comprehensive treatment planning seminars. Case discussions and PBL sessions provided active dialogue spaces, encouraging students to compare clinical approaches in Singapore with those commonly practiced in Indonesia—a reflective process crucial for developing clinical reasoning and professionalism. behavioral science, bedah mulut (OMS), serta seminar perencanaan perawatan komprehensif. Diskusi kasus dan PBL menjadi ruang dialog aktif, mendorong mahasiswa membandingkan pendekatan klinis di Singapura dengan praktik yang lazim di Indonesia sebuah proses reflektif yang krusial bagi pembentukan nalar klinik dan profesionalisme
EXPLORING ACADEMIC COLLABORATION
The program was not solely focused on student experience. Amid the activities, an academic meeting was held with Dr. Hu Shijia from the Department of Prosthodontics at NUS to discuss potential future collaborations. The opportunity to invite a Prosthodontics consultant from NUS as a guest lecturer also emerged as part of follow-up collaboration plans.
For FKG UGM, this exploration opens doors to strengthening academic and research networks while enriching international exposure for international-class students. Interaction with students and healthcare professionals from various countries—including India, China, Australia, and Indonesia—expanded cross-cultural perspectives that are increasingly relevant in an era of global mobility.
PREPARING GLOBAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
Faculty supervision ensured alignment between learning outcomes and the home curriculum, monitored academic and ethical development, and facilitated post-program collaboration opportunities. Meanwhile, students were required to adapt to a new academic culture, uphold the institution’s reputation, and disseminate their experiences upon returning to Indonesia—a learning cycle positioning them as academic ambassadors of UGM.
Amid the challenges of globalized healthcare services, exchange programs like this underscore the importance of direct experience as a foundation for educational quality improvement. For FKG UGM students, Singapore became a learning laboratory to cultivate clinical competence, cultural sensitivity, and international networks that will shape them into globally competitive dental professionals.
(Contributor: Dr. drg. Sri Budi Barunawati, M.Kes., Sp.Pros.(K); Editor: Andri Wicaksono, S.Sos., M.I.Kom)
