ACDS Community Visit: Malaysia Roadshow 2026 Strengthens Regional Dental Collaboration
The Abroad Community of Dental Students (ACDS) successfully conducted the ACDS Community Visit: Malaysia Roadshow 2026 on 16–19 January 2026, a regional academic and professional mobility program aimed at strengthening cross-border collaboration in dental education and student leadership across Southeast Asia. The program saw the participation of 20 selected dental student delegates from four countries, representing four major islands of Indonesia through leading public universities: Gadjah Mada University (Java), Mulawarman University (Kalimantan), Andalas University (Sumatra), and Hasanuddin University (Sulawesi). This diversity reflected ACDS’s commitment to inclusive representation and equitable access to international academic exposure.
The roadshow was hosted by the Faculty of Dentistry (FKG), Hasanuddin University (UNHAS) as the Host University Roadshow, with the Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Malaya serving as the Host University Visit, and was jointly organized by ACDS and the Malaysian Dental Students’ Association (MDSA) as the Host Program.
A key highlight of the program was the official academic visit to the Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Malaya, where the ACDS delegation was formally welcomed by the Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry and the faculty leadership team. The visit included an institutional briefing, faculty tour, and university tour, offering participants firsthand insights into Malaysia’s dental education system, academic infrastructure, and clinical training environment. This visit provided a platform for academic exchange and discussion on curriculum development, student mobility, and future institutional collaboration between Indonesian and Malaysian dental schools.
The delegation also took part in Dental Undergraduate Success Kit (DUSK) 9.0, organized by MDSA and held at IMU University which allowed participants to gain practical perspectives on career development and leadership beyond the clinical setting. The program featured a series of forums and discussions on entrepreneurship in dentistry, patient-centered care, behavioral management, oral health advocacy in the digital era, and professional resilience.
Moreover, ACDS delegates attended the 33rd Malaysian Dental Association Scientific Convention and Trade Exhibition (SCATE) 2026 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC). This participation allowed students to engage with cutting-edge research, emerging dental technologies, and global professional networks. The exposure reinforced the importance of research literacy and lifelong learning among future dental professionals.
Complementing the academic components, the program concluded with a Kuala Lumpur City Tour, providing participants with cultural and social immersion experiences. This activity enhanced intercultural understanding and fostered camaraderie among delegates from different educational and national backgrounds.
The ACDS Community Visit: Malaysia Roadshow 2026 stands as a strategic initiative to cultivate globally minded dental students who are academically competent, culturally aware, and prepared to contribute to regional and international dental communities. Through this program, ACDS reaffirmed its role as a bridge between Indonesian dental students and international academic platforms, while laying the foundation for sustainable collaboration with partner institutions in Malaysia and beyond.