South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO), School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, recently participated in the Designing Your Engagement Project Workshop organised by the Public and Community Engagement Department, Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) Indonesia

The workshop took place from 23rd to 25th September 2025 at JSI Resort Megamendung, Bogor, Jawa Barat, Indonesia, bringing together researchers, practitioners, and community engagement specialists from across the region.

This three-day interactive workshop adopted a participatory learning approach, combining group discussions, interactive games, and individual project development. Participants were guided through three main phases — Project Identification, Project Design, and Project Evaluation.

During the Project Identification phase, participants learned to define engagement objectives, identify target audiences, and map available resources to ensure their initiatives are strategic, relevant, and impactful. The Project Design phase provided hands-on experience in selecting effective engagement tools and approaches, allowing participants to apply creative and inclusive methods to their project concepts.

In the Evaluation phase, participants explored multiple approaches to measure the success and impact of their engagement activities, including planning for sustainable post-engagement follow-through. They also benefited from one-on-one consultations and tailored feedback sessions with experienced facilitators, further strengthening personal and institutional capacity in public and community engagement.

Overall, this workshop served as a valuable platform for knowledge exchange, regional collaboration, and professional development — reinforcing SEACO’s commitment to advancing meaningful, ethical, and impactful community engagement practices in research.