UI Professor to Lead SEAMEO Regional Centre for Food and Nutrition (SEAMEO RECFON)
Depok, Indonesia (ANTARA) – Prof Rini Sekartini, a full professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia (FKUI), has been selected to lead the SEAMEO Regional Centre for Food and Nutrition (SEAMEO RECFON) as Centre Director.
Prof Rini Sekartini said she was grateful for the trust placed in her and reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening regional cooperation in the development of food and nutrition science. ‘Looking ahead, we hope to further strengthen collaboration among Southeast Asian countries in the development of food and nutrition science, while also driving various research and programmes that have tangible impacts on improving public health,’ she said in a statement on Thursday.
This appointment recognises her contributions and expertise in child health as well as the development of food and nutrition science at the regional level.
The appointment was conveyed through an official letter from the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO), signed by the SEAMEO Council President and Brunei Darussalam’s Minister of Education, Romaizah Mohd Salleh.
The letter states that Prof Rini Sekartini will lead SEAMEO RECFON until 31 December 2028. SEAMEO RECFON is a Southeast Asian regional research centre focused on the development of food and nutrition science. Based in Jakarta, the centre operates under SEAMEO and plays a crucial role in enhancing human resource capacity, conducting research, and disseminating knowledge related to nutrition and public health across Southeast Asia.
The centre was founded in 1967 as SEAMEO Tropical Medicine and Public Health Network (SEAMEO TROPMED) and transformed into SEAMEO RECFON in 2011 with a stronger focus on food and nutrition issues. One of its flagship programmes is Nutrition Goes to School, which aims to raise nutritional literacy and promote healthy behaviours in school environments.
Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia (FKUI), Prof Anna Rozaliyani, congratulated Prof Rini Sekartini for the trust placed in her. She noted that the appointment reflects the contribution of FKUI’s academic community to the development of science and the strengthening of international collaboration. ‘FKUI extends its congratulations and highest appreciation to Prof Rini Sekartini for the mandate to lead SEAMEO RECFON,’ she said. She hopes her leadership will further strengthen Indonesia’s, particularly FKUI’s, role in advancing research, education, and regional collaboration in the field of food and nutrition to improve public health.