YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia — UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta has accelerated its plans to establish a Faculty of Medicine, moving swiftly into curriculum finalisation just days after an official review by Indonesia’s Ministry of Health, the university said on Friday.

The move underscores the university’s commitment to meeting national medical education standards while positioning itself as a future contributor to Indonesia’s healthcare workforce.

A Medical Curriculum Strengthening Workshop, held on July 18, 2025, brought together senior university leaders, quality assurance officials, prospective faculty members, and curriculum experts from Diponegoro University (UNDIP)—one of Indonesia’s leading public medical schools. The workshop followed a Ministry of Health visit conducted a week earlier, during which reviewers provided technical and academic recommendations.

Vice Rector for Academic Affairs and Institutional Development Prof. Istiningsih said the university treated the review as an operational directive rather than a procedural milestone.

“Every recommendation from the Ministry was addressed immediately,” she said. “This workshop ensures that our medical curriculum is compliant, quality-assured, and ready for implementation.”

University officials said the proposed Faculty of Medicine has secured key academic and clinical prerequisites, including specialist faculty members, partnerships with accredited teaching hospitals, and collaboration with regional health authorities, community health centres, and public hospitals.

Chair of the Medical School Establishment Team Prof. Sri Sumarni described the process as structured and results-driven. “Progress is no longer conceptual. It is measurable, documented, and continuously strengthened through external mentorship,” she said.

UNDIP’s Medical Education (Medu) team led intensive curriculum reviews and hands-on mentoring sessions, focusing on outcome-based education, regulatory alignment, and curriculum coherence. Faculty candidates worked in parallel groups to refine Semester Learning Plans (RPS) to ensure clarity, integration, and non-overlap across courses.

One defining feature of the proposed program is its academic focus on geriatric and elderly health, reflecting Yogyakarta’s status as one of Indonesia’s regions with the highest life expectancy. University officials said the specialization responds to demographic trends and national healthcare priorities rather than branding considerations.

“This is a realistic and socially relevant academic focus,” said Prof. Tri Nur Kristina of UNDIP. “It positions graduates to respond to Indonesia’s long-term healthcare challenges.”

Vice Rector for Administration, Planning, and Finance Dr. Mochamad Sodik said the university remains aware of the complexity of establishing a medical school but is confident in the process. “With disciplined preparation, strong governance, and institutional partnerships, this faculty will be realized,” he said.

The workshop concluded with confirmation that curriculum documentation and academic frameworks are being finalized in line with current regulatory requirements, bringing UIN Sunan Kalijaga closer to securing formal approval.

University officials emphasized that the initiative is not an expansion for scale, but a strategic investment in public health education.

“Our objective is clear,” Prof. Istiningsih said. “To produce competent, ethical physicians equipped to serve communities and strengthen Indonesia’s healthcare system.”