Yogyakarta, Indonesia – Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing (FK-KMK) Universitas Gadjah Mada successfully organized the Workshop on Leadership Curriculum Development for Implementation Science Leadership Fellowship from 30 September to 2 October 2025 at The Phoenix Hotel, Yogyakarta. The three-day workshop aimed to strengthen the foundation of the Implementation Science Leadership Fellowship by developing a structured and contextually relevant leadership curriculum.
This event brought together leading scholars, institutional partners, and experts from Universitas Gadjah Mada, the University of Ghana, and the World Health Organization’s Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (WHO-TDR). The sessions focused on sharing best practices, exploring leadership development models, and designing an integrated curriculum to enhance leadership capacity in implementation research. The workshop opened with welcoming remarks and a sharing session led by Prof. Yodi Mahendradhata, Dean of FK-KMK UGM, and Dr. Mahnaz Vahedi from WHO-TDR. The session featured presentations on the Implementation Science Leadership Fellowship Program by representatives from the University of Ghana and Universitas Gadjah Mada, followed by an interactive Q&A session moderated by Prof. E. Elsa Herdiana Murhandarwati.
Later in the morning, a talk show titled Fellow’s Expectations for Leadership Training was held, where representatives from both institutions discussed participants’ needs, challenges, and goals in leadership capacity development. The session was chaired by Prof. Ari Probandari and provided valuable input for the curriculum design process. The afternoon session continued with Dr. dr. Ida Safitri Laksanawati, Sp.A(K) sharing UGM’s Department of Child Health experience in leadership training, followed by collaborative discussions on drafting the initial structure and objectives of the proposed leadership curriculum.
The second day featured a sharing session by Dewi who presented insights from the UGM Doctoral Program in Leadership and Policy Innovation. The session, chaired by Dr. Riris Andono Ahmad, explored how leadership capacity can be integrated into academic programs through mentoring and experiential learning. Following this, Dr. dr. Andreasta Meliala, DPH., M.Kes., MAS shared the experience of PKMK UGM in conducting leadership training within health policy contexts. These insights provided a framework for aligning the new curriculum with institutional goals and regional needs.
The afternoon was devoted to collaborative drafting sessions led by Prof. Ari Probandari, focusing on defining core leadership competencies, curriculum objectives, and desired outcomes.
The final day centered on refining and finalizing the Leadership Curriculum for the Implementation Science Fellowship. The sessions were chaired by representatives from the University of Ghana and Dr. Mahnaz Vahedi, who facilitated discussions on curriculum coherence, learning outcomes, and implementation strategies. The workshop concluded with a wrap-up session led by Prof. Yodi Mahendradhata and Dr. Mahnaz Vahedi, summarizing key points and outlining next steps for curriculum validation and pilot testing. In the evening, participants attended a networking dinner, fostering stronger collaboration among institutions and reinforcing shared commitments to advancing leadership in implementation science.
This workshop embodies FK-KMK UGM’s commitment to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). By co-developing an inclusive and evidence-based leadership curriculum, FK-KMK UGM and its international partners contribute to building sustainable leadership ecosystems that empower researchers and policymakers to drive impactful health innovations across the Global South.
Writer: Fikri Wahiddinsyah