The Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara (FK USU), hosted a cooperation agreement signing ceremony for the establishment of Specialist Medical Education Programs with six partner universities: Universitas Abdurrab, Universitas Prima Indonesia, Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Universitas Jambi, and Universitas Riau. The event took place in the Meeting Room on the First Floor of the Faculty of Medicine, USU, on October 25, 2025, and was attended by faculty leaders and representatives from each partner university.
The Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, USU, Prof. Dr. dr. Aldy Safruddin Rambe, Sp.S(K), welcomed all invited guests and expressed his appreciation for their attendance. In his remarks, he explained that this collaborative initiative followed up on an initiative first introduced by the Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology in the field of Science and Technology on June 27, 2025, during the opening of the Indonesian Association of Medical Education Institutions (AIPKI) event in Padang.
Furthermore, the Dean explained that the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, had been appointed to provide mentorship and support to six partner medical faculties in the process of establishing new Specialist (Sp-1) and Subspecialist (Sp-2) Medical Education Programs. This mentorship is expected to strengthen the capacity of medical education institutions, improve the quality of specialist training, and promote more equitable access to specialist and subspecialist medical education across Indonesia.
This initiative aligns with SDG 4 (Quality Education), particularly in expanding access to quality higher education and strengthening educational institutions through academic partnerships. Through mentorship and knowledge exchange among medical faculties, this collaboration is expected to support the development of competent, professional healthcare professionals who can respond effectively to the healthcare needs of the community.
“FK USU is committed to becoming an active and productive partner in the development of specialist medical education programs. Through this collaboration, we hope to expand access, improve quality, and accelerate the availability of qualified specialist and subspecialist doctors for the community,” stated the Dean of FK USU.
The event continued with the signing of cooperation agreements by representatives of each university, witnessed by faculty leaders. The atmosphere was marked by warmth and a strong spirit of collaboration. The signing represented a shared commitment to strengthening institutional cooperation, exchanging expertise, and developing medical education programs focused on improving the quality of healthcare human resources.
This inter-university collaboration also supports SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by strengthening partnerships among higher education institutions to achieve shared development objectives. These synergies are expected to facilitate the exchange of expertise, enhance academic capacity, and promote more effective use of resources in supporting specialist and subspecialist medical education.
The event marked an important milestone in strengthening academic networks among universities while supporting national efforts to promote equitable access to education and healthcare services across Indonesia. Increasing the number and improving the quality of specialist and subspecialist doctors are expected to strengthen healthcare system capacity, improve public access to quality medical services, and reduce disparities in healthcare delivery across regions.
Accordingly, this collaboration also contributes to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by supporting the availability of competent medical professionals and improving access to quality healthcare services. Through the shared commitment of FK USU and its six partner universities, the development of medical education is expected to serve as a strategic step toward building a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable healthcare system in Indonesia.