Salaya, Thailand – The Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Diponegoro (FPH UNDIP), is strengthening its international academic networks through the participation of Aditya Kusumawati, S.KM., M.Kes., in the International Academic Networking (IAN) Workshop entitled “Promoting Physical Activity for NCD Prevention: Global and Southeast Asian Perspectives.” The workshop is organized by the Institute for Population and Social Research (IPSR), Mahidol University, Thailand, and is scheduled for October 13–17, 2026.
The participation forms part of Universitas Diponegoro’s efforts to advance internationalization through its World Class University (WCU) Program, particularly by strengthening faculty members’ academic capacity and fostering collaboration with international higher education institutions.
The workshop focuses on physical activity promotion as an important strategy for preventing non-communicable diseases (NCDs). By bringing together global and Southeast Asian perspectives, the program provides a platform for learning and knowledge exchange on evidence-based health promotion strategies.
The workshop covers the foundations of physical activity, its relationship with NCDs and mental health, the global and Southeast Asian physical activity landscape, and the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Participants are also introduced to physical activity assessment using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ).
Beyond classroom-based sessions, the workshop incorporates participatory learning activities, including problem mapping, target population identification, group discussions, presentations, and feedback. These activities are designed to help participants translate scientific evidence into practical physical activity promotion interventions by defining problems, identifying target groups, developing strategies, and determining appropriate evaluation approaches.
The workshop is relevant to academic capacity development in public health, particularly in designing systematic, evidence-based health promotion interventions that respond to population needs. Knowledge gained from the sessions may also inform teaching and research development at FPH UNDIP.
In addition to strengthening academic competencies, the workshop provides opportunities to expand academic networks between FPH UNDIP and IPSR, Mahidol University. The planned agenda includes discussions on potential future academic collaborations, such as joint research, scientific publications, faculty and student exchanges, guest lectures, curriculum development, and joint academic events.
These international networking opportunities are expected to provide a foundation for sustainable institutional collaboration and strengthen both institutions’ contributions to public health research and health promotion.
Through participation in this international workshop, FPH UNDIP continues to support the development of academic capacity, the expansion of global partnerships, and the application of international knowledge to education, research, and community engagement.
The participation represents a strategic step toward strengthening FPH UNDIP’s contribution to addressing global health challenges, particularly the prevention of non-communicable diseases through physical activity promotion.