Sukoharjo, September 14, 2026 — A total of 173 students from the Public Health Study Program, Faculty of Health Sciences (FIK), Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS), were officially sent off to participate in Field Learning Practice 1 (PBL 1) in Weru District, Sukoharjo Regency, Central Java. The send-off ceremony took place on Monday (September 14, 2026) at the Weru District Office.
The send-off marked the beginning of a field-based learning process scheduled to last approximately one month, from September 14 to October 16, 2026. The 173 students will be divided into 17 groups and stationed in 17 hamlets across the Weru District area.
The event was attended by the Head of Weru District (Camat), Pandiyanto, S.T., M.M.; Weru Sector Police Chief, Aiptu Sunardi; Weru Military Rayon Commander (Danramil), Second Lieutenant Darmin; Sukoharjo Regency Health Office representative, Anik Aastari, S.Kep.; the Head of the Weru Community Health Center (Puskesmas); the Weru Puskesmas Health Promotion (Promkes) team; six village midwives from Tegalsari, Krajan, Jatingarang, Karanganyar, Alasombo, and Karangmojo villages; and six village heads from the Weru District area.
From the UMS FIK Public Health Study Program, the event was also attended by 10 of the 17 lecturers who will supervise the students during the PBL 1 program. The presence of these various stakeholders demonstrates the synergy between the university, district and village governments, healthcare facilities, and the community in supporting the educational process for public health students.
PBL 1 serves as a crucial component of the UMS public health students’ learning journey, bridging the knowledge gained in the classroom with the health conditions encountered firsthand in the community. While in the field, students are expected to gain a comprehensive understanding of various public health issues through observation, interaction, problem identification, and active engagement with the local community and stakeholders.
Deploying students across 17 hamlets offers each group the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the unique characteristics of the area and the specific dynamics of public health within each community. Direct interaction with village officials, health workers, community health volunteers, and residents plays a crucial role in enabling students to view health issues not merely through a theoretical lens, but also within the social and environmental contexts of the community’s daily lives.
Support from various parties in Weru District is vital to the program’s success. Collaboration among students, lecturers, local government authorities, health professionals, and village officials aims to foster a mutually beneficial learning environment.
For the students, PBL 1 is more than just an academic requirement to be fulfilled; it is an opportunity to learn both from and alongside the community. Over the course of more than a month, UMS Public Health students will be present in the communities of Weru District to hone their professional skills and cultivate a deeper sensitivity toward the health issues affecting the local environment.
With the commencement of PBL 1 on September 14, 2026, 173 UMS Public Health students are bringing the knowledge gained on campus to meet real-world experiences in the field. This learning process in Weru District is expected to broaden their horizons, foster a sense of care, and prepare them to become future public health professionals capable of actively engaging with and contributing to the community.
