Undana and UCT Timor Leste Strengthen Cross-Border Health Education

The collaboration between Universitas Nusa Cendana (Undana) in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), and Universidade Católica Timorense (UCT) São João Paulo II in Timor Leste aims to strengthen health education and cross-border human resource development. Undana’s Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Prof. Annytha I.R. Detha, stated in Kupang on Wednesday that the partnership focuses on implementing professional medical education for UCT students at Undana, as well as supporting the establishment of a Veterinary Medicine programme at the Timorese university. “This collaboration is not merely an academic matter but part of joint efforts to improve health quality across the island of Timor,” she said. Annytha explained that UCT students will undergo professional medical training at Undana’s partner educational hospitals and community health centres in Kupang City. According to her, this collaboration also forms part of Undana’s internationalisation efforts and represents regional solidarity between Indonesia and Timor Leste in strengthening health services. Under the agreement, Undana applies an affirmative policy on education costs for Timorese students by waiving the Institutional Development Fee (IPI). Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine (FKKH) at Undana, Dr. dr. Christina Olly Lada, stated that this policy ensures continued access to professional medical education for UCT students. “Through budget efficiency, tuition fees are set at Rp15 million per semester, lower than the national regulatory maximum,” she said. Christina views this step as the initial milestone for producing professional medical graduates from the Undana-UCT collaboration. In addition to professional medical education, Undana will assist UCT in opening the Veterinary Medicine programme, targeted to commence in June 2026. The assistance includes preparing academic documents, feasibility studies, and lecturer resource support to meet relevant ministry requirements in Timor Leste. UCT Rector, Frei Prof. Dr. Joel Casimiro Pinto, welcomed Undana’s support, which he sees as aiding the strengthening of health education in his country, particularly amid limitations in facilities and education costs. He also noted that technical guidance from Undana’s FKKH is crucial for preparing the new programme. The partnership between the two institutions is regarded as part of strengthening educational diplomacy between Indonesia and Timor Leste, while supporting improvements in health service quality and human resource development in Southeast Asia.