NERS NEWS — The Undergraduate Nursing Study Program of the Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga, once again held its regular Collaborative Online Learning for Nurses (COLEN) activity online via Zoom Meeting. The activity focused on the topic “The Entrepreneurial Mindset in Nursing Students”, featuring Supitcha Wongkanghae from the Faculty of Nursing, Naresuan University, Thailand, as the speaker.
COLEN is a collaborative program between the Undergraduate Nursing Study Program and Division III of the Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga, aimed at strengthening internationalization, academic collaboration, and students’ global competencies. Held on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Western Indonesia Time (WIB), the activity was attended by students and participants from various higher education institutions in Indonesia and abroad. Participating institutions included Batangas State University and Pangasinan State University from the Philippines, Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Nursing Pune from India, La Trobe University from Australia, and Universitas Airlangga from Indonesia.
During the presentation, the speaker emphasized the importance of developing an entrepreneurial mindset from the early stages of nursing education. This mindset is not limited to the ability to establish a business but also encompasses the ability to recognize opportunities, think creatively, innovate, solve problems, take initiative, and adapt to changes in healthcare services.
The development of an entrepreneurial mindset is carried out gradually. In the initial stage, students are encouraged to develop flexibility, future orientation, initiative, and independence. These abilities are then strengthened through creativity, innovation, critical thinking, communication, problem-solving, and collaboration.
Through this activity, participants gained an understanding that nurses not only play a role in providing nursing care but are also expected to be able to identify community needs, develop healthcare service innovations, and create beneficial solutions for patients, families, and communities.
The participation of attendees from various countries created an interactive and multicultural learning environment. COLEN also serves as a platform for students to exchange experiences, expand academic networks, and enhance their international communication and collaboration skills.
This activity supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education through quality nursing education; SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth through strengthening creativity, an entrepreneurial mindset, and work readiness; SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure through the development of innovation and the utilization of educational technology; and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals through international academic partnerships.
The COLEN program represents one of the Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga’s commitments to improving the quality of education and broadening students’ global perspectives through collaboration with partner universities from various countries.
Writer: Dr. Iqlima Dwi Kurnia, S.Kep., Ns., M.Kep.
