Indonesia
This is an Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility project of Leiden University’s Faculty of Medicine with University of Indonesia, Faculty of Medicine, and Universitas Katolik Indonesia Atma Jaya in Indonesia.
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About the project
This Erasmus+ ICM project brings together Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), the Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia and Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia.
The partnership builds on longstanding academic ties between Indonesia and Leiden and aims to strengthen internationalisation through student and staff mobility, intercultural learning, educational innovation and research collaboration. While the project initially focused on student exchange, it has evolved into a broader platform for strategic cooperation in education, research and capacity building.
Creating international classrooms
Through the Erasmus+ programme, eight Indonesian medical students completed a study period at LUMC, exceeding the original target of seven participants. Five students came from Universitas Indonesia and three from Atma Jaya Catholic University. Students participated in a wide range of educational activities, including:
- Global Health
- Clinical Immunology
- Medical Technology
- Spine and Skull Base Surgery
- Otolaryngology
- Courses within the regular medical curriculum
Studying alongside Dutch and international peers allowed participants to gain exposure to innovative educational approaches while simultaneously enriching the learning environment at LUMC with perspectives from Indonesia’s healthcare system and cultural context.
Participant feedback consistently highlighted the high academic quality of the programme, the accessibility of academic staff and the opportunity to learn within a research-intensive academic medical centre. Many students described the experience as academically enriching, personally transformative and highly relevant for their future careers.
"Studying at LUMC broadened my perspective on medicine and research. Learning together with students from different backgrounds and experiencing new technologies has been invaluable for my professional development. I hope many more Indonesian students will have the opportunity to participate in this programme."
Exchange student from Universitas Indonesia
In return, every year ten students from the LUMC participated in research projects alongside students from Atma Jaya Catholic University and Universitas Indonesia, in Jakarta. An article on the project of the student batch of 2024 was published on the website of Atma Jaya:
> Fakultas Kedokteran dan Ilmu Kesehatan Unika Atma Jaya Sukses Gelar Program Kolaborasi dengan Leiden University (in Indonesian)
Beyond mobility: Strengthening institutional partnerships
A major milestone of the project was the staff mobility visit to Indonesia in October 2025. During this visit, representatives from LUMC met with leadership, researchers, clinicians and students at Universitas Indonesia and other Indonesian partner institutions.
The programme included visits to:
- Community healthcare centres (Puskesmas)
- Clinical and research facilities at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital
- The Indonesian Medical Education and Research Institute (IMERI)
- Research groups focusing on genetics, cancer, infectious diseases, ageing, metabolic disorders and stem cell research
These exchanges created opportunities to identify new areas for collaboration and deepen mutual understanding of educational systems, healthcare challenges and research priorities. Discussions focused on future cooperation in human genetics, infectious diseases, nephrology, gynaecology, population health and healthy ageing.
A short report on the visit to Indonesia in 2025 was published on the LUMC website:
> LUMC delegation visits Indonesia
Another report was published on the Leiden University website:
> LUMC delegation explores collaboration opportunities in Indonesia
From academic exchange to national impact
The partnership between LUMC and its Indonesian partners increasingly extends beyond individual mobility activities. A clear example was the visit of Indonesian Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin to LUMC in 2024. During the visit, discussions focused on strengthening healthcare education, research collaboration, innovation and the development of future healthcare professionals.
The ministerial visit reflected the growing recognition of the longstanding collaboration between LUMC and Indonesian institutions and highlighted the strategic relevance of the partnership within Indonesia's broader healthcare and higher education ambitions. It also demonstrated how educational mobility can serve as a catalyst for wider institutional, governmental and societal engagement.
Together with subsequent strategic visits, the development of new scholarship programmes, the Health, Ageing and Society fast-track initiative and emerging research collaborations, the visit illustrates how the Erasmus+ ICM project has contributed to a partnership that now operates at multiple levels: individual (student), academic, institutional and national.
Developing new educational pathways
One of the most important outcomes of the project has been the development of a fast-track pathway between Universitas Indonesia and LUMC's Master's programme in Health, Ageing and Society (HAS). Regular strategic meetings between both institutions continue to explore:
- Fast-track educational pathways
- Joint doctoral programmes
- Double degree opportunities
- Expanded student mobility
- New scholarship schemes
These initiatives illustrate how Erasmus+ ICM mobility can act as a catalyst for long-term educational innovation and institutional collaboration.
Expanding opportunities through scholarships
Building on the successes of the mobility programme, LUMC established dedicated Global Ambassador Scholarships for Indonesian students. These scholarships help ensure that talented students can participate regardless of financial circumstances and extend the impact of the Erasmus+ project beyond its formal funding period.
The continuation of these scholarships reflects a shared commitment by all partners to widening access to international education and supporting future generations of healthcare professionals.
Connecting education, research and innovation
Although student mobility has been the primary focus of this project, the collaboration has increasingly linked education with research and innovation. Indonesian students gained first-hand experience of LUMC's research-intensive environment, while staff exchanges opened new opportunities for collaboration in biomedical and population health research.
A particularly important outcome was the strengthening of collaboration in biomedical and health genomics. Discussions during the project led to a Memorandum of Understanding between LUMC and the Universitas Indonesia-based Centre for Biomedical and Health Genomics (BGSi), focusing on research and capacity building in population-scale genomic analysis. The partnership has also supported the development of a joint PhD trajectory through the LUMC Global PhD Fellowship programme.
Building a community of global health professionals
The project has created lasting connections between students, staff and institutions in Indonesia and the Netherlands. Through initiatives such as the LUMC Global Community, embassy events and alumni engagement activities, participants remain connected long after their mobility period ends.
An annual visit to the Indonesian Embassy in The Hague has become a valued tradition, providing a platform for students to share their experiences, inspire future participants and celebrate the longstanding educational relationship between Indonesia and the Netherlands.
"International partnerships grow through people. Every student exchange, staff visit and joint project builds trust. Erasmus+ has enabled us to develop a collaboration that now spans education, research, innovation and long-term institutional partnerships."
Guido de Wilde, Lead Global Education at LUMC
Looking ahead
The partners intend to continue and expand their collaboration through new educational and research initiatives. Building on the strong foundation created by the Erasmus+ programme, future activities will focus on student mobility, postgraduate education, joint doctoral training, scholarship opportunities and research collaboration.
What began as a mobility project has developed into a sustainable strategic partnership that supports internationalisation, knowledge exchange and capacity building in both countries. Through continued cooperation, Leiden University, Universitas Indonesia and Atma Jaya Catholic University are creating opportunities for students, researchers and educators to work together on the health challenges of the future.
Article on Universitas Indonesia website about commitment to future collaborations in infectious diseases:
> UI faculty of medicine committed to expand education and research collaboration with LUMC