Higher Education Health Program at Airlangga University

Abstract

The Higher Education Health Program at Airlangga University in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia has been recognized by the Malaysian government. Airlangga University started to offer the Higher Education Health Program to Malaysian students in 2002. This program is administered by the faculty of medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy. The Department of Medicine at Airlangga University was founded in 1913 during the Dutch colonial time when it was called Nederlande Indische Artsen School (NIAS). The Faculty of Dentistry was also established during Dutch era in 1928 and was called School Tot Opleidig van Indische Tandartsen (STOVIT) (Universitas Airlangga, 2004). In 1963, the Department of Pharmacy was founded.Those three departments provide both academic and professional education programs leading to degrees and certifications for doctor, dentist, and pharmacist (Universitas Airlangga, 2007b). The main reason for admitting students from Malaysia is to move toward international recognition and to have programs accredited by the Malaysian government. In the last five years, many students came from Malaysia to Indonesia to study at Airlangga University or other universities. Malaysian students articipate in the Higher Education Health Program at Airlangga University together with those from Indonesia and Bahasa Indonesia is used in instruction, because they have to engage and practice with Indonesian people.