HUMAS FAHUTAN – The Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), welcomed a delegation from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, at the Faculty of Forestry, Kwala Bekala, Deli Serdang, on Thursday, 15 January 2026. This visit served as a strategic momentum to strengthen international networks and open opportunities for cross-border academic collaboration in forestry and sustainable environmental management.
During the visit, the UiTM delegation was welcomed by the leadership of the Faculty of Forestry USU. The activity was attended by the Dean of the Faculty of Forestry USU, Prof. Dr. Ir. Rudi Hartono, S.Hut., M.Si., IPM., Vice Dean III, Prof. Dr. Ir. Agus Purwoko, S.Hut., M.Si., Secretary of the Undergraduate Forestry Study Program, Dr. Evalina Herawati, S.Hut., M.Si., Secretary of the Directorate of Internationalization and Global Partnerships USU, Arif Nuryawan, S.Hut., M.Si., Ph.D., as well as faculty staff and employees.
From UiTM Pulau Pinang, the delegation included Dr. Nor Khadijah Binti Mohd Azhari, Dr. Muhammad ‘Arif Aizat Bashir, and Dr. Sperico Michael Alden Kirap as representatives of lecturers from several faculties, along with a student delegation participating in the series of activities.
As part of the program, the academic community of Fahutan USU and the UiTM delegation engaged in discussions on the development of collaboration in education, research, and community service. The discussions were dynamic, focusing on strengthening student and faculty mobility programs, knowledge exchange, and the development of collaborative research oriented toward global environmental issues.
As a reinforcement of the partnership, the activities included the signing of an Implementation Arrangement (IA) between the Forestry Study Program of the Faculty of Forestry USU and several units at UiTM Pulau Pinang. This agreement serves as the foundation for the implementation of various joint programs, ranging from staff and student mobility, the development of collaborative academic activities, to cross-institutional thematic discussion agendas.
In addition to the IA signing agenda, the UiTM delegation was also scheduled to participate in a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) addressing the theme of reducing plastic use within campus environments and the broader community. This FGD was designed as a forum for exchanging ideas and best practices in promoting environmental awareness and strengthening the role of higher education institutions in sustainable development.
Through this activity, the Faculty of Forestry USU reaffirmed its commitment to continuously expanding global partnerships and promoting the internationalization of academic programs that generate tangible impacts on enhancing the capacity of students and lecturers, as well as making meaningful contributions to environmental issues at local, national, and international levels.