SEMARANG — The Faculty of Medicine, Diponegoro University (FK Undip) officially concluded the 2025 International Summer Course series with a lively Closing Ceremony in the Multipurpose Room, Building A, on Thursday, September 4, 2025. The program co host by St. Paul University Philippines, which ran from August 25 to September 4, 2025, carried the theme “Disaster Behavioral Health in Preventing Disaster-Related Social Issues.” The event brought together participants from the Philippines, Japan, Malaysia, China, and Indonesia, along with lecturers and invited guests.
Also present were Prof. Chihaya Koriyama, MD, Ph.D., from Kagoshima University, Japan, as a guest speaker, and dr. Muflihatul Muniroh, M.Si., Med., Ph.D., Vice Dean of Academic and Student Affairs of Faculty of Medicine, Diponegoro University, officially closed the event.
The event began with a cultural immersion session that showcased the richness of cultures from various countries. Participants were introduced to traditional Indonesian attire, including kebaya, batik, and songket, accompanied by Nusantara dance performances. From Japan and China, traditional clothing such as yukata and hanfu were presented, along with a collaborative music performance and traditional songs.
The delegation from the Philippines performed the La Jota Quirino and Cariñosa Dance, while Malaysian participants presented the art of pantun and introduced popular tourist destinations. The atmosphere grew even livelier when all participants joined together in performing the Tari Maumere, reflecting the spirit of cross-national unity.
During the academic session, Prof. Chihaya Koriyama delivered an international lecture titled “Health System and Disaster Management in Japan.” He emphasized the importance of health system preparedness in facing disasters while sharing Japan’s experiences as valuable lessons for other countries, including Indonesia.
The closing ceremony was concluded by dr. Muflihatul Muniroh, M.Si., Med., Ph.D., Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs at the Faculty of Medicine, Diponegoro University. In her remarks, she expressed her hope that this collaboration would continue through research collaborations and various international programs in the future.
“This activity not only enriches academic knowledge but also strengthens international friendships. We hope this collaboration will continue through research and other international programs,” concluded dr. Muflihatul.
One participant from Malaysia, Shazlin, acknowledged the valuable experience she gained from learning about Filipino, Japanese, Chinese, and Indonesian cultures.
“The closing ceremony and cultural immersion session were truly fun and engaging. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Filipino, Japanese, Chinese, and Indonesian cultures. This experience made the entire experience even more memorable!” said the student from Universiti Malaya, Malaysia.
Through the 2025 International Summer Course, participants gained valuable insights into disaster management and public health, as well as meaningful cross-cultural experiences and international networks. Faculty of Medicine, Diponegoro University hopes this program will continue to serve as a bridge for global collaboration in health, education, and disaster management.(*)
