UNAIR NEWS – Prof. Ferry Efendi, SKep, Ns, MSc, PhD, a professor of community nursing at Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), has been awarded a prestigious research grant from the Volkswagen Foundation. The project brings together an international team, including Dr. Julia Lohmann of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), Germany; Prof. Rini Rachmawaty of Hasanuddin University (UNHAS); and Dr. Firman Witoelar of the Australian National University (ANU).
Supported by one of Europe’s leading research funders, the team will carry out a study titled Understanding the Education and Labor Market Consequences of Indonesia’s Quest to Become the World’s Leading Nurse Exporting Nation. The research will comprehensively examine the effects of Indonesia’s policies promoting the overseas migration of nurses.
Global demand surge, Indonesia’s opportunity
According to Prof. Efendi, developed nations—especially OECD members—are facing a critical shortage of nurses. With more than 750 nursing programs and over 50,000 graduates each year, Indonesia is well positioned to help fill this gap.
“Indonesia has a surplus of nurses, while the world is experiencing an acute shortage. This is a strategic moment we must seize,” said Prof. Efendi. He has been ranked among the world’s top 2% of nursing researchers for two consecutive years by Stanford University and Elsevier.
Nationwide study, IDR 25 billion budget
The five-year project, valued at more than IDR 25 billion, will involve over 60 nursing schools across Indonesia. Using a longitudinal mixed-methods approach, the research will explore how migration policies affect nursing education, the profile of nursing students, and the readiness of graduates for both domestic and international labor markets.
This is not Prof. Efendi’s first collaboration with Dr. Lohmann. In a prior study, they examined the views of stakeholders in Indonesia, Colombia, and Jordan on health worker migration. The published findings showed that Indonesia’s current nurse emigration levels do not yet threaten the domestic workforce—pointing to significant potential for Indonesia to expand its role in the global nursing market.
Building knowledge diplomacy
In addition to generating academic insights, the project aims to strengthen the capacity of early-career researchers through training programs, doctoral studies, and cross-border partnerships. The Volkswagen Foundation grant affirms Indonesia’s growing presence in the global research arena.
“More than just research, this is a long-term investment in knowledge diplomacy and in enhancing the quality of Indonesia’s health workforce. It is time for Indonesian nurses to care for the world,” Prof. Efendi concluded.
Author: Prof Ferry Efendi
Editor: Yulia Rohmawati
