An atmosphere of enthusiasm and innovation filled the 4th Floor Hall of the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara (FK USU), on Friday, October 2, 2026. Dozens of posters featuring creative ideas were neatly displayed, accompanying interactive discussions between students and lecturers at the Student Project Proposal Poster Exhibition.

This activity served as the main and first platform for students to showcase their work as part of the learning series of the Self-Development Program (SDP) Block themed “Leadership and Entrepreneurial Mindset” in the third semester of the Medical Education Study Program. The activity also marked a new milestone at FK USU through the first implementation of a comprehensively designed Project-Based Learning (PjBL) method in the SDP Block.

This innovative learning method was initiated and designed by dr. Rizki Indah Putri Lubis, MHPE, FFRI, and received full support from the leadership of the Faculty of Medicine USU and study program management as part of the ongoing transformation of medical education.

“This method is indeed new at FK USU. But it is good! This activity makes students enthusiastic, increases interaction, not only among students but also among lecturers. Amazing! Excellent!” said the Head of the Medical Education Study Program at FK USU, Prof. Dr. dr. Rina Amelia, MARS, FISPH., FISCM., Sp.KKLP., Subsp.FOMC, at the end of the event.

Meanwhile, dr. Rizki Indah Putri Lubis, MHPE, FFRI, explained that the PjBL approach provides students with greater opportunities to learn through real experiences.

“With the PjBL approach, learning medicine is no longer limited to the classroom. Students are given space to express themselves, increase their awareness, and develop various soft skills. In the third semester, students are encouraged to develop leadership and an entrepreneurial mindset from an early stage through the application of medical knowledge in real-world contexts. From the beginning of their education, students can also create an impact and provide benefits to society.

The SDP Block as a whole is part of the Professional Identity Formation (PIF) program, through which we aim to develop prospective doctors who not only ‘know’ but have also begun to think, feel, behave, and act as doctors. They are not only academically excellent but also adaptive, creative, and capable of providing solutions for society—in line with the spirit of SDP FK USU: Great Doctors, Beyond Medicine!”

Collaborative Ideation Process and 52 Impactful Projects

The learning process was designed systematically so that every student experienced the same process of analytical thinking and empathizing with problems in the surrounding community through individual assignments at the beginning of the learning process.

Based on similarities in interests and topic clusters, hundreds of individual ideas were then grouped and crystallized, resulting in 52 selected group project titles. Dozens of FK USU lecturers were actively involved as facilitators to assist, evaluate, and guide students' ideas throughout the PjBL process.

The variety of innovative works presented has significant potential to be further developed as part of the implementation of the Three Pillars of Higher Education (Tridharma Perguruan Tinggi), covering education, research, and community service. In addition, these creative ideas are being prepared for participation in prestigious national programs, such as the Student Creativity Program (PKM), as well as Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) registration.

Synergy among Campus Berdampak Elements, Key Performance Indicator (IKU) Achievement, and SDGs

This project-based learning innovation provides multisectoral benefits for the entire FK USU ecosystem, including:

  1. Student Soft Skills Development
    Developing skills such as leadership, communication, critical thinking, project management, collaboration, and various other competencies.
  2. Participatory Academic Atmosphere
    Creating an interactive, enjoyable, and student-centered learning environment.
  3. Lecturer and Student Collaboration
    Lecturers not only serve as facilitators but also help identify new research and community service ideas together with students.
  4. Achievement of Key Performance Indicators (IKU) for State Universities
    • IKU 2 (Project-Based Learning Experience): Encouraging real learning experiences through PjBL oriented toward problem-solving.
    • IKU 3 & 5 (Lecturer Recognition & Community Service): Lecturers guide students in producing useful and impactful works that are ready for downstreaming (IPR/PKM).
    • IKU 7 (Collaborative and Participatory Classes): Transforming conventional lecture models into project-based group interactions to solve real-world problems.

  5. Contribution to the SDGs
    Addressing various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), as well as other SDG targets relevant to each student group's project.

Collaborative support from university leaders, lecturers, students, and the entire academic community has made this activity tangible evidence that FK USU continues to move toward Campus with Impact. FK USU remains committed to delivering relevant, transformative, and future-oriented breakthroughs in medical education.