HUMAS USU - The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) of Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) organized the International Summer Course 2023 at the FMIPA Hall, USU, on Monday (11/07/2023).

In his remarks, the USU Directorate of Internationalization and Global Partnerships Director, Prof. Dr. Eng. Himsar Ambarita, ST, MT, explained that this activity was held to realize one of USU's Strategic Plans (Renstra), namely Internationalization.

"In the second period of the Strategic Plan, we want to focus on Internationalization. We want to bring what we have. So, the university asked lecturers to do more international activities and organized some activities to make students have international activities," she explained.

Dr. Cut Fatimah Zuhra S.Si., M.Si., as the Vice Dean I of FMIPA, hoped that the activity themed "Beneficial of Fungi Innovation and Biodiversity" would produce many new ideas, concepts, and breakthroughs for future developments in the field of biology.

"I believe that the International Summer Course 2023 held by the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences will be a source of ideas, concepts, and breakthroughs in the development of biology in the future," he said.

He also hoped that students at FMIPA could build relationships with participants from overseas universities during this event.

"The impact that we hope for students in FMIPA when this activity is carried out, as I mentioned, is that there will be a network, networking, students with students from abroad. Of course, this is very useful, especially later we can continue maybe with MBKM activities, for example," he said.

The activity, which took place in a hybrid manner for five days (July 10-14), was attended by participants from 26 countries, some of which were Pakistan, Burundi, and Madagascar.

The Chairperson of the Committee, Liana Dwi Sri Hastuti, S.Si., M.Si., Ph.D., said several Indonesian students in France also participated in this activity.

"There are 46 of us. Twenty-six of us are from various countries, Pakistan, Burundi, Madagascar, and some of them are Indonesian students in France," she said.

Vice Dean III of the Faculty, Prof. Dr. Miswar Budi Mulya M.Si., also expressed his hope to continue cooperation with universities that have participated and invite other countries to participate in future International Summer Course activities.

"Our hope, especially from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, is that we will follow up with the cooperation of universities that are members of this summer course activity. With this cooperation, we want it to be sustainable," he said.

Author: Bambang Riyanto - Humas

Interviewee: - - -

Photographer: Amri Simatupang - Humas