Old-fashioned nutrition counseling on the way out? UNISA Yogyakarta teams up with Malaysian experts to thoroughly explore the digital era!

The old-fashioned, rigid, face-to-face approach to nutrition counseling seems set to become obsolete. Responding to the challenges of the times, the Nutrition Study Program at the Faculty of Health Sciences (FIKes) of Universitas ‘Aisyiyah (UNISA) Yogyakarta made a bold move by hosting a Public Nutrition General Lecture at the Siti Moendjijah Building on Thursday (October 30, 2025).

Nutrition

The theme chosen was no small matter: “Digitalization of Nutrition Counseling and Education.” This is a strong signal that future nutritionists must be tech-savvy.

The Dean of FIKes UNISA Yogyakarta, Dr. Dewi Rokhanawati, S.SiT., MPH, was candid in her opening remarks about the event’s purpose. According to her, technology must be utilized optimally in nutrition services to make them more effective and reach more people.

“Through this studium generale, it is hoped that students will better understand the importance of their role as future nutritionists,” said Dewi.

She emphasized that students are encouraged to commit more deeply to their studies and “plan strategic steps for the future, both during their studies and in the professional world,” she added.

The seriousness of this event was evident in the participants’ enthusiasm. A total of 273 participants attended in a hybrid format (in-person and online). Interestingly, the event was attended not only by fifth-semester Nutrition students but also by students from the Anesthesiology program.

To thoroughly explore the topic of digitalization, UNISA Yogyakarta invited two internationally renowned speakers. They were Muhammad Iqbal Basagili, S.Gz., MPH, a lecturer at the Jember State Polytechnic, and Dr. Mohd Ramadan Ab. Hamid from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) in Malaysia. Both speakers thoroughly discussed how apps, social media, and digital platforms can serve as new tools for nutritionists in providing counseling and education.