Forging Global Ties in Dentistry: UP Manila College of Dentistry and Universitas Airlangga Faculty of Dentistry Foster Collaboration and Global Exchange
Surabaya, Indonesia – August 25 to 29, 2025. The STOVIT Summer Course X Prosthodontic Summer Camp 2025, hosted by the Faculty of Dental Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, marked a significant milestone in international collaboration within dental education. Universitas Airlangga, the oldest faculty of dental medicine in Indonesia, holds the distinction of being ranked first in the country, tenth in Southeast Asia, and within the top 601–800 dental schools globally. This initiative serves as a platform for clinical training and encourages partnerships between international students.
The first day of the program commenced with an opening ceremony that introduced the Faculty of Dental Medicine at Universitas Airlangga (FKG UNAIR) and extended a warm welcome to the 51 participants, comprising dental medicine and dental technology students from 16 universities worldwide. Notably, the University of the Philippines College of Dentistry (UPCD), represented by Angeleica Faith N. Chu and Clareese Rosette A. Urriquia, was the sole dental school from the Philippines in attendance and the first from the country to participate in this annual summer course.
The ceremony featured opening remarks from Prof. Muhammad Luthfi, Dean of the Faculty of Dental Medicine, and Dr. Nadia Kartikasari, Faculty Ambassador and main event coordinator. A cultural performance was presented, followed by the symbolic handing of a traditional Keris dagger to the Dean, which marked the program's official start through the opening of a ceremonial box.
Following the ceremony, participants embarked on a guided campus tour that showcased the institution’s various facilities. A total of seven clinical departments—Dental Conservation, Periodontics, Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Prosthodontics, Oral Medicine, and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery—support the clinical training of students across 11 study programs, which include the undergraduate program in Dental Medicine as well as specialist programs corresponding to the aforementioned disciplines. Among the institution’s many facilities are an Oral Pathology Laboratory, Prosthodontic Laboratories, Radiology Rooms, and a dental materials store. They also have clinic rooms outfitted with viewing apparatus that allow live demonstration of procedures to observers in the adjacent lecture room.
Subsequently, a series of academic meetings were held to explore future collaborations between the University of the Philippines Manila College of Dentistry (UPCD) and the Faculty of Dental Medicine, Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR). Representing UPCD was Dr. Charlie Atienza, who was tasked by Dean Michelle Sunico Segarra to accompany the two student participants, Angeleica Faith N. Chu and Clareese Rosette A. Urriquia, in the STOVIT Summer Course X Prosthodontic Summer Camp 2025, while also initiating academic discussions with UNAIR officials.
Welcoming the delegation were Prof. Dr. Muhammad Luthfi, Dean, Dr. Dini Setyowati, Vice Dean III, Dr. Nadia Kartikasari, Faculty Ambassador, Dr. Ramadhan Hardani Putra, International Affairs Officer, and other officials.
Two key meetings were convened. The first was with Dean Luthfi and UNAIR leadership, focusing on institutional cooperation, benchmarking of undergraduate prosthodontics programs, and international partnership opportunities.
The second was with the Department of Prosthodontics, headed by Prof. Dr. Nike Hendrijantini (Head of Department) and Dr. Ratri Maya Sitalaksmi (Director of the Prosthodontic Specialist Program). This session explored prosthodontics faculty development, postgraduate training, and collaborative teaching and learning activities.
These discussions mark a step forward in building mutually beneficial academic partnerships, emphasizing the value of sustained collaboration in strengthening dental education and research.
On behalf of UPCD, Dean Michelle Sunico Segarra extends her deepest gratitude to Universitas Airlangga for their warm hospitality and commitment to partnership, as both institutions look toward future joint initiatives.
Cultural immersion soon followed, beginning with a Batik workshop at Rumah Batik Jawa Timur. Participants learned the cultural significance of this traditional art and created personalized batik designs imprinted on tote bags as keepsakes.
The day was capped off with the Cultural Night, which showcased an array of performances, including songs, dances, poetry, interactive games, and short presentations from each university, highlighting tradition and cultural representation. The students from UPCD facilitated a brief trivia game followed by a lively round of Hep-Hep Hooray, which garnered enthusiastic attention and participation from the audience. Many attendees came dressed in their respective countries’ traditional attire and accessories. At the close of the event, Angeleica Faith N. Chu was recognized with the Best Costume – Female Award.
The second and third days of the program were dedicated primarily to the conduct of Clinical Trainings across four disciplines: Periodontics, Oral Medicine, Orthodontics, and Prosthodontics.
In Periodontics, Dr. Irma Joesfina Savitri introduced the Periodontal Inflamed Surface Area (PISA), an index that quantifies periodontal inflammation using clinical parameters such as BOP, PPD, and CAL. Participants were provided with an Excel-based tool to calculate PISA values. The presentation emphasized PISA as a diagnostic measure of periodontal inflammation and an indicator of inflammatory burden, a risk factor with broader implications in systemic health.
In Oral Medicine, faculty members from the Department of Oral Medicine presented a lecture on the topic, “Identifying Oral Normal Variance.” Afterwards, a post-test in the form of a crossword puzzle and image identification activities were administered, in which Clareese Rosette A. Urriquia, together with three groupmates from other universities, won first place.
In Orthodontics, participants were given individual kits to practice cephalometric tracing on radiographs of patients treated by the department.
In Prosthodontics, highlighting the department’s scope in oral and maxillofacial rehabilitation, an activity on ocular prosthetics was conducted. The participants attended a lecture on oromaxillofacial prostheses, observed Dr. Agus Dahlan demonstrate iris painting, and painted their own eye prosthesis.
For the latter half of the second day, the participants explored Surabaya through a city tour coordinated with the Surabaya City Government. Among the locations visited were the Museum Pendidikan (Surabaya Education Museum) and the Kota Lama (Old Town of Surabaya). Participants donned traditional Indonesian attire, the kebaya and batik printed fabrics, while touring Kota Lama aboard the historic Toerwagen vehicle.
The third day also featured a lecture delivered by Dr. Mefina Kuntjoro from the Department of Prosthodontics, entitled “Implant Dentistry Through Time: From Analog to Digital.” The presentation underscored key subtopics, including the benefits of dental implants, the impact of bone density on implant survival and success, and the key differences between analog and digital methods in obtaining diagnostic aids for implant treatment.
The remainder of the afternoon was dedicated to a lively Independence Day Celebration. A variety of games were conducted that fostered camaraderie between international participants and host students.
The fourth day began with a Community Engagement Program at SD Muhammadiyah 4 Surabaya (Mudipat Elementary School), where the elementary students, the faculty, and Principal Ustadz Edy Susanto warmly welcomed participants. The participants were entertained by an impressive showcase of talents, ranging from music to robotics, by the brilliant and gifted students of the school.
Each international student served as an internship teacher and was assigned to different Grades 5 and 6 classes to provide patient education and oral hygiene instruction. Towards the conclusion of the program, representatives from each country were invited to deliver testimonies at the office of the principal, with Clareese Rosette A. Urriquia speaking for the Philippines. In addition, a handcrafted traditional shadow puppet figurine was presented to each participating country, with Angeleica Faith N. Chu receiving the token on behalf of the Philippines.
Afterwards, the program reconvened at FKG UNAIR, where each participating university presented a Program Report that featured their reflections and experiences throughout the program. The reports were complemented by engaging video presentations to conclude the week-long program.
The closing ceremony capped the academic exchange, during which Dr. Nadia Kartikasari delivered the closing remarks and awarded the participants with certificates for their participation in the STOVIT Summer Course X Prosthodontic Summer Camp 2025. During this time, Angeleica Faith N. Chu was honored with the title of Ms. International Friendship, an award voted on by fellow participants.
As the final highlight, participants embarked on a trip to Mount Bromo. The participants left in the evening after the closing ceremony and traveled overnight to reach the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park before dawn. From a designated viewing point at Penanjakan Hill, they witnessed the sun rise over the horizon and illuminate the expanse of the Tengger Massif along with its surrounding Sea of Sand.
Later in the excursion, participants crossed this vast plain of volcanic sediment, either on foot or horseback, and ascended the slopes leading to the edge of the caldera of Mount Bromo, the only active somma volcano among the volcanic complex dominating the landscape.
This awe-inspiring journey to Mount Bromo served as a symbolic finale, seamlessly uniting the spirit of cultural exploration with the academic and professional growth fostered throughout the program. It marked the conclusion of the remarkable exchange hosted by Universitas Airlangga, which enriched participants with advanced knowledge and skills in dentistry, meaningful cultural immersion, lasting friendships, and treasured memories to carry forward.
The UPCD participants are truly grateful to Universitas Airlangga, especially Dr. Nadia Kartikasari and the organizing team, for their dedication to making the program a success. They also thank the UPM and UPCD administration, particularly Dean Michelle Sunico Segarra, for their unwavering support and the privilege of representing the Philippines on this global stage in dentistry.
- Written by Angeleica Faith N. Chu, Clareese Rosette A. Urriquia, and Dr. Charlie Atienza
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#University of the Philippines Manila
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