Gastrodiplomacy FISIP USU for Leadership

Students of Communication Science at Universitas Sumatera Utara organized a series of activities consisting of a Focus Group Discussion and Leadership Out Loud on 29th November 2025, highlighting gastrodiplomacy as a medium of cross cultural communication while strengthening student leadership capacity.

The activities explored gastrodiplomacy as a form of international communication that conveys national identity, values, and cultural narratives through food. This theme was considered relevant for Communication students as it demonstrates that messages are not only delivered through spoken or written language, but also through symbols, culture, and shared experiences.

The discussion session, which involved the Consulate General of India in Medan, provided students with direct insights into cross cultural communication from a diplomatic perspective. Through this forum, participants gained a broader understanding of how communication functions as a bridge between nations and cultures, fostering mutual understanding and long term relations.

Complementing the discussion, Leadership Out Loud served as a practical space for students to apply communication and leadership values. The activity encouraged participants to make decisions, collaborate in teams, manage group dynamics, and respond to challenges collectively. It emphasized leadership as a skill developed through experience rather than theory alone.

The head of the organizing committee, M Khalish, explained that the program was designed to connect theoretical understanding with real world practice, enabling students to grasp global communication concepts while strengthening leadership and teamwork skills.

The initiative aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4 on quality education through competency based learning, and SDG 17 on partnerships for the goals by promoting cross institutional and cross cultural collaboration.

Through this program, Communication Science students at Universitas Sumatera Utara are expected to further develop their awareness that communication extends beyond speaking and listening, encompassing understanding, collaboration, and leadership in a global context.