Risanti
Published on 29 October 2026
The Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Sumatera Utara (FKM USU), successfully organized its first International Summer Course from 12–20 October 2026 under the theme “Local Wisdom in Supporting Community Health in Tropical Areas in North Sumatra Province of Indonesia.” The program was officially opened by Prof. Dr. Eng. Himsar Ambarita, S.T., M.T., Vice Rector III for Research, Innovation, and Cooperation at Universitas Sumatera Utara.
Conducted in a hybrid format, the program combined four days of online academic sessions with field visits and cultural activities in North Sumatra. Ten academic topics explored tropical public health, social determinants of health, adolescent reproductive health, Indigenous community nutrition, maternal and child health, ethnomedicine, and wellness tourism. The field visits provided participants with opportunities to explore the cultural heritage, local wisdom, and community life of Karo and Samosir, North Sumatra. The program concluded with a cultural performances in Samosir, celebrating cultural diversity of participants.
The program brought together 22 participants from diverse international backgrounds, representing Mali, Algeria, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Timor-Leste, Afghanistan, Tanzania, Malaysia, Madagascar, and Malawi. This diversity created opportunities for cross-cultural exchange, international networking, and the sharing of perspectives on public health challenges across different countries and communities.
The academic sessions featured nine speakers representing Indonesia, Malaysia, and Taiwan. From Indonesia, the speakers were Prof. Dr. Dra. Ida Yustina, M.Si.; Prof. Etti Sudaryati, M.K.M., Ph.D.; Prof. Dra. Nurmaini, M.K.M., Ph.D.; Risanti Febrine Ropita Situmorang, S.K.M., M.Sc.; Dhani Syahputra Bukit, S.K.M., M.K.M.; and Destanul Aulia, S.K.M., M.B.A., M.Ec., Ph.D. International speakers included Dr. Anisah Binti Baharom from Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia; Prof. Dr. Zaleha Md Isa from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia; and Dr. Liang-Yin Hsu from Tzu Chi University, Taiwan.
By integrating academic learning, cultural exchange, and field-based engagement, the International Summer Course strengthened cross-cultural understanding and opportunities for international collaboration in education, research, and community engagement. The program also supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
