Wednesday, 23 October 2024

Vice Dean for Cooperation, Research, and Community Service of the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, dr. Inke Nadia Diniyanti Lubis, PGDipPID M.Ked (Ped), SpA, PhD, visited the College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University (October 23, 2024), to discuss and strengthen cooperation in academic and research fields. The visit aimed to expand international collaboration between the two institutions, particularly in student and staff exchange and joint research in oncology.

During this visit, the Vice Dean III of FK USU was received by the College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, including Prof. Byung Cheol Lee (Vice Dean), Prof. Hi Joon Park (Vice Dean for Research), Prof. Wung Seok Cha (Head of the College of Korean Medicine), Prof. Sanghoon Lee (Head of the Department of Internal Medicine), Prof. Jinbong Park (Head of the Department of Pharmacology), and Prof. Bong Lee Kim (Head of the Department of Pathology).

Building a Student and Staff Exchange Network

Kyung Hee University is one of the best universities in Korea, with a ranking of 328 based on the QS World University Ranking, and is the University with the oldest Korean College of Medicine. One of the main agendas of this visit was to discuss opportunities for student and academic staff exchange between the USU Faculty of Medicine and Kyung Hee University. The program is expected to provide opportunities for students from both universities to gain academic and clinical experience in another country, enriching their understanding of international medical approaches.

Academic staff exchange is also an important concern in this cooperation. Through the staff exchange program, both institutions can share knowledge and experience in various medical fields, including teaching methodologies, clinical practices, and the latest technological developments in the healthcare field. This is expected to improve the quality of medical education and strengthen professional networks among academics from both universities.

Focus on Oncology Research

In addition to student and staff exchanges, research was a major focus of the discussion. Both universities agreed to strengthen research cooperation, especially in oncology. Oncology, a branch of science that studies cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, has complex challenges and requires multidisciplinary collaboration to produce new breakthroughs.

The research collaboration between the USU Faculty of Medicine and Kyung Hee University is expected to create innovative research that can positively impact cancer treatment. The research covers various aspects, ranging from clinical trials and developing new therapies to using advanced technologies such as bioinformatics and nanotechnology in cancer diagnosis and treatment.

By utilizing the expertise and resources of both institutions, it is expected that the research results can be published in leading international journals and contribute to the development of cancer treatment at the global level.

Potential for Further Development

The cooperation between the Faculty of Medicine of USU and Kyung Hee University is expected to not only be limited to student exchange and oncology research. In the discussion, there is potential for further cooperation in other areas, such as joint scientific conferences, continuing education programs, and interdisciplinary research projects involving other faculties in both universities.

The visit also allowed both parties to understand each other's academic and social cultures, which is important in building strong international partnerships. With this synergy, the USU Faculty of Medicine and Kyung Hee University are optimistic that they can make a real contribution to addressing global health challenges and improving the quality of medical education.