The Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara (FK USU) welcomed an academic delegation from the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Syiah Kuala (FK USK) to discuss the enhancement of University-Based Collaboration while providing institutional guidance on the establishment of Specialist (Sp-1) and Subspecialist (Sp-2) Medical Education Programs. The meeting was held on Monday, 6 July 2026, at the Dean's Meeting Room, 2nd Floor, FK USU, marking a strategic step toward strengthening inter-institutional collaboration in support of high-quality, innovative, and competitive medical education.
The visit was part of FK USK's initiative to strengthen academic cooperation and seek guidance from FK USU, which has extensive experience in organizing specialist and subspecialist medical education programs. Through this meeting, both institutions exchanged ideas and discussed strategies for developing sustainable, high-quality medical education programs that comply with national standards and regulatory requirements.
In addition to exploring opportunities for collaboration in education, research, and community engagement, the primary agenda focused on discussions and institutional guidance regarding the preparation for the establishment of three new study programs at FK USK:
- Specialist Medical Education Program (Sp-1) in Neurosurgery.
- Subspecialist Medical Education Program (Sp-2) in Surgery.
- Subspecialist Medical Education Program (Sp-2) in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
During the discussion, FK USU shared its experience and best practices in developing specialist and subspecialist programs, including the preparation of academic documents, fulfillment of human resource requirements, readiness of teaching hospitals, competency-based curriculum development, and strategies for meeting licensing and accreditation standards.
The Dean of FK USU, Dr. dr. Muara Panusunan Lubis, M.Ked(OG), Sp.O.G., Subsp.K.Fm., emphasized that collaboration among medical schools is a strategic approach to accelerating the equitable development of specialist and subspecialist medical education across Indonesia.
"FK USU warmly welcomes the visit from the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Syiah Kuala as a reflection of our shared commitment to strengthening collaboration among higher education institutions. Through a University-Based Collaboration approach, we are not only sharing experiences in the implementation of specialist and subspecialist medical education but also building strategic partnerships that will enhance institutional capacity, improve the quality of medical education, and ultimately contribute to better healthcare services for the community," said the Dean of FK USU.
This collaboration between FK USU and FK USK reflects both institutions' commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, by strengthening the quality of higher medical education. Furthermore, the partnership contributes to SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals by fostering collaboration among higher education institutions to build a sustainable ecosystem for medical education, research, and healthcare services.