he development of the healthcare sector demands the presence of professionals who are not only skilled but also possess a global perspective. This is what motivated Prima Agustia Nova, S.Kep., Ns., MSc., a lecturer at the Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Indonesia (FoN UI), to pursue doctoral studies abroad. Since September 2023, she has officially been on a study assignment with exemption from her academic duties to undertake the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing program at the University of Manchester, United Kingdom, funded by a scholarship from the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP).

Nursing is a profession at the frontline of healthcare services. Nurses are often the first healthcare providers to interact with patients, ranging from basic care to the management of complex cases. However, health challenges in Indonesia are far from simple—ranging from the rise of preventable chronic diseases, the importance of promoting healthy lifestyles in healthcare services, to mental health issues that increasingly demand attention in the context of prevention.

Prima realizes that enhancing academic and research capacity is essential to address these challenges. “Through my doctoral studies, I hope to explore new approaches in nursing with an emphasis on high-quality research, producing outputs that are relevant, impactful, and able to contribute meaningfully to the development of nursing science, practice, and policy. In addition, cross-disciplinary and inter-institutional collaboration is a crucial aspect to strengthen the impact of this research,” she said.

By pursuing her studies at the University of Manchester—one of the world’s leading centers for nursing education—Prima has the opportunity to learn directly from experts about high-quality research as well as the implementation outcomes of interventions in the field of nursing.

According to her, this global perspective is essential to deepen the understanding of research topics, both in the global and Indonesian contexts. “There are many aspects that can be adapted, whether in research, clinical practice, or policy. However, what matters most is ensuring that the outcomes of this learning remain relevant to the social, cultural, and societal needs of Indonesia,” she added.

FoN UI continues to encourage its lecturers to enhance their academic capacity through further studies, both domestically and abroad. The Dean of FoN UI has repeatedly emphasized that investing in improving the quality of lecturers will have a direct impact on the quality of nursing education in Indonesia.

“We are proud of and fully support FoN UI lecturers who are pursuing doctoral studies at world-renowned universities. This effort aligns with our vision to produce graduates who excel not only at the national level but also have global competitiveness,” said Prof. Dr. Rr. Tutik Sri Hariyati, SKp., MARS, Dean of FoN UI.

With her passion for learning and the support of the LPDP scholarship, Prima Agustia Nova’s academic journey is not merely a personal pursuit, but is also expected to enrich and advance research relevant to societal needs, while strengthening the role of nurses within the national healthcare system.