Visiting Professor Series: Department of Community Nutrition, IPB University, on How to Evaluate Nutrition Policy, Invites Nutrition Professor from Malaysia

IPB University’s Department of Community Nutrition, in collaboration with the IPB International Research Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health, recently hosted Prof. Norhasmah Sulaiman, a nutrition policy expert from Universiti Putra Malaysia, as part of their Visiting Professor Program. This initiative aims to strengthen international partnerships and enrich the academic experience for IPB University students and faculty by promoting knowledge exchange in nutrition science.

Prof. Katrin Roosita, Chair of the Department of Community Nutrition, emphasized the program’s significance, noting that it offers students and faculty unique opportunities to gain practical skills and broaden their global networks. “We are delighted to welcome Prof. Norhasmah to IPB University. Her expertise in nutrition policy research will be invaluable to our community,” said Prof. Katrin.

The program represents a starting point for a deeper collaboration between Universiti Putra Malaysia and IPB University. Prof. Katrin expressed her hopes that such knowledge-sharing sessions would continue to elevate education and research in the field of nutrition, helping participants to enhance their research capabilities and gain insights into practical nutrition policy applications.

The Visiting Professor Program, funded by the 2024 PUAPT grant, includes a series of guest lectures and workshops for undergraduate and postgraduate nutrition students at IPB University. This year’s program also coincides with the Summer Course held by the Department of Community Nutrition, where Prof. Norhasmah serves as a key speaker.

In her presentation, Prof. Norhasmah discussed the Theory of Change (ToC) as a framework for identifying and evaluating data within the context of Malaysia’s nutrition policies. She highlighted the importance of systematic approaches in nutrition policy evaluation, covering stages from data collection to impact analysis. “Effective programs must be grounded in solid scientific evidence to ensure successful implementation,” she remarked.

Through initiatives like the Visiting Professor Program, IPB University seeks to foster stronger academic connections with international institutions, enabling young faculty members and postgraduate students to explore advanced topics in nutrition and gain perspectives essential for developing nutrition science and policy in Indonesia.

(*/RA; AHM)