In May 2025, the Faculty of Public Health (FKM) at Diponegoro University held a Visiting Professor event as part of the University’s World Class University (WCU) Program. This event featured Prof. Kinley Wangdi, MBBS, MSc, PhD, an expert in Spatial Epidemiology and Bayesian Methodologies from the University of Canberra, Australia, who also serves as an NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow at the Health Research Institute, University of Canberra.

A series of activities took place from May 23 to June 15, 2025, with in-person events in Semarang held from May 26–31, 2025. The agenda included:

  • Public lectures and academic training sessions, such as a Public Lecture on Spatial Analysis for Public Health, Tips and Tricks to Publish in Scopus Journals for Doctoral Students, and Training on the Use of GEODA for Public Health Problem Analysis, which were attended by undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students, as well as representatives from the Semarang City Health Office.

  • A visit to the Semarang City Health Office for discussions on infectious disease control strategies and access to collaborative research data.

  • Collaborative research development with FKM UNDIP faculty members, particularly in the fields of spatial epidemiology and public health, with the goal of producing reputable international publications.

  • Field visits to several locations in and around Semarang as part of efforts to enrich research and cultural context.

In addition to the academic activities, an official banquet and meetings with faculty leaders were held to strengthen institutional relations. As a result of this event, FKM UNDIP and the University of Canberra agreed on a continued partnership by signing a Letter of Intent (LoI), which will serve as the foundation for further development of international cooperation in education, research, and joint scientific publication.

This Visiting Professor activity is a concrete demonstration of UNDIP’s commitment to implementing internationalization in higher education towards becoming a World Class University, while also strengthening global academic networks to enhance the quality of research and teaching in public health.