Jakarta, January 6, 2026 – The PELITA Project Advisory Panel Kick-off Meeting and Stakeholder Consultation was held at the Gran Melia Hotel, Jakarta, officially launching a five-year international research project funded by the Volkswagen Foundation, Germany. The meeting brought together high-level representatives from key government institutions, professional associations, international organizations, educational institutions, and the private sector to discuss the project’s direction and policy relevance. 

The research project, titled “Understanding the Education and Labor Market Consequences of Indonesia’s Quest to Become the World’s Leading Nurse Exporting Nation,” examines the implications of Indonesia’s efforts to position itself as a major global supplier of nursing professionals for the domestic health labor market and nursing education system. 

The project is led by an international research team consisting of Professor Julia Lohmann from Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, Germany; Professor Ferry Efendi from Universitas Airlangga in Surabaya, Indonesia; Professor Rini Rachmawaty from Universitas Hasanuddin in Makassar, Indonesia; and Associate Professor Firman Witoelar Kartaadipoetra from the Australian National University in Canberra.  

Indonesian stakeholders emphasized the importance and timeliness of this research project. They pointed out the need to manage international nurse mobility in a way that minimizes potential long-term issues while strengthening workforce development and educational institutions. Stakeholders highlighted the necessity of ethical recruitment policies and accreditation standards while ensuring better alignment between labor market demands and educational requirements. 

The consultation further stressed that research findings should translate into actionable and measurable policy recommendations. Rather than waiting for final results at the end of the project, stakeholders encouraged milestone-based dissemination of findings that can inform ongoing policy development. Continuous two-way communication between the research team and the advisory panel was seen as essential to ensure relevance, impact, and long-term sustainability. 

The meeting concluded with strong commitment from all participants to support the PELITA project through ongoing engagement and collaboration. The research team expressed its appreciation for the valuable inputs and reaffirmed its commitment to producing evidence-based, policy-oriented research that will contribute to strengthening Indonesia’s nursing workforce and health system. A follow-up stakeholder consultation is planned within the next three months.