Universitas Andalas Doctoral Student Trains Timor-Leste Health Workers to Address Stunting through the EQUITY Program in Support of SDG 3 and SDG 17

Universitas Andalas has once again demonstrated its global contribution in the field of public health through an international humanitarian mission in Timor-Leste focused on tackling stunting and malnutrition. This initiative is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), which emphasizes improving public health, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), which promotes cross-country collaboration in addressing global development challenges.

The humanitarian mission began on January 12, 2026, and was led by Rezky Fauzan, a doctoral student in Biomedical Sciences at Universitas Andalas. The program was carried out in Timor-Leste as part of an international community service initiative aimed at helping the country address its high rates of stunting and malnutrition among children. The activity forms part of the EQUITY Outbound Program funded by the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology.

During the program, the Universitas Andalas team provided training for local health workers to strengthen their capacity in addressing nutrition-related problems and stunting. The training was designed to enhance the ability of health personnel to conduct early detection, provide nutritional education, and manage cases of child malnutrition at the community health service level. This effort is expected to help improve the quality of healthcare services in Timor-Leste, particularly in areas that still face a shortage of specialists in nutrition.

The program also forms part of Universitas Andalas’ internationalization strategy through the Enhancing Quality Education for International University Impacts and Recognition (EQUITY) scheme. Through this program, Universitas Andalas encourages the involvement of lecturers and students in academic and community service activities at the international level, thereby strengthening global networks while delivering tangible benefits to communities.

This cross-country collaboration not only provides benefits for the people of Timor-Leste, but also enriches the academic and professional experience of Universitas Andalas students in responding to global health issues. Through knowledge transfer and training for local health workers, the program is expected to strengthen efforts to address malnutrition and stunting in a sustainable manner.

With the active involvement of students and the support of the EQUITY internationalization program, Universitas Andalas continues to expand its contribution to strengthening public health capacity at the global level. This initiative shows that universities play not only a role in education and research, but also serve as strategic partners in addressing health and development challenges across countries.