UI Rector: Global Demand for Nurses Continues to Rise

Universitas Indonesia (UI) has stated that the demand for nursing professionals continues to increase in various countries to provide the best healthcare services to the community. UI Rector Heri Hermansyah said in Depok, West Java, on Monday that the main issue faced is not only the shortage of nursing staff in several countries, but also the lack of connection between this need and countries that have a surplus of graduates. To address this, UI hosted the Annual Meeting of the Southeast and East Asian Nursing Education and Research Network (SEANERN) 2026 at the Faculty of Nursing (FIK) UI on 24 July. Around 17 delegates from 11 countries and territories in Southeast and East Asia gathered to formulate joint steps to strengthen nursing education, research, and professional development in the region. “This meeting is a very strategic opportunity to discuss how nursing education systems in various countries can be more aligned, have comparable standards, and enable the recognition of professional education and certification,” said Heri. He assessed that SEANERN can serve as a strategic platform to encourage the harmonisation of educational standards and the development of mutual recognition mechanisms, so that nursing graduates have broader opportunities to contribute in various countries. SEANERN is a nursing education and research network that brings together higher education institutions in Southeast and East Asia. Through this network, members develop research collaborations, align curricula, and strengthen the quality of nursing education in the region. “When nursing education leaders gather, we can share challenges, obstacles, and best practices. That is the main strength of SEANERN,” he said. According to him, collaboration must be realised through research and scientific publications that make a real contribution to the development of nursing science. One of SEANERN’s achievements in the last two years is the completion of international research on the use of artificial intelligence in nursing education, involving various member countries. The results of this research are currently being prepared for publication in a reputable international journal.