Seven staff members of the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), The Maldives National University (MNU), joined a five-day training and exposure programme at Mahidol University in Thailand from 4 to 8 August 2026. The visit focused on public health education, research and community engagement.

Sessions and visits introduced simulation and digital teaching, research supervision, surveillance, health promotion, maternal and child health, and prevention of noncommunicable diseases. Institutional and community visits showed approaches to university–community collaboration.

Participants reported that the experience informed ideas for teaching and for developing FHS as a health-promoting faculty. Potential joint training and research remain future opportunities, while the programme itself strengthened academic exchange between MNU and Mahidol University.

The exchange offered approaches that FHS staff can consider for teaching, student research mentoring and locally relevant community health initiatives.

The programme supports SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) through public health capacity, SDG 4 (Quality Education) through staff learning, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through academic exchange between MNU and Mahidol University. Its discussions of digital teaching, access and community health also relate to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).