Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), through its Master’s Program in Public Administration, organized an International Summer Course titled “Local Leadership for Sustainable Development” as an effort to strengthen local leadership capacity in addressing sustainable development challenges. The program was held from April 21–30, 2026, in collaboration with the Consulate of India as an international partner.

The program was designed as a platform for learning, idea exchange, and cross-country collaboration, emphasizing the strategic role of local leadership in transforming public administration. One of the key issues highlighted was disaster resilience governance, which refers to governance systems that strengthen the capacity of local governments, communities, and stakeholders to anticipate, respond to, and adapt to increasingly complex disaster risks driven by climate change.

Chair of the organizing committee, Dra. Asima Yanty Sylvania Siahaan, M.A., Ph.D., stated that the International Summer Course reflects USU’s commitment to expanding its academic role in addressing global challenges. She emphasized that the program not only focuses on enhancing participants’ capacity but also contributes to strengthening the university’s international reputation.

“Through this program, USU aims to strengthen its contribution to science and humanity, in line with its vision as a global barometer of knowledge,” she explained.

She further noted that similar initiatives in the future are expected to position USU as a center for knowledge development that is relevant to global societal needs, particularly in the areas of local leadership and inclusive disaster resilience governance. The program also serves as a strategic step to expand international academic networks and attract international students to pursue their studies at USU.

The program was attended by 35 participants from India, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Nigeria, and Indonesia. The diversity of participants enriched discussions and broadened perspectives on local leadership practices across different national contexts.

The implementation of the program was divided into two main components: online learning and field research. The online sessions, held from April 21–24, 2026, included lectures, academic discussions, and case studies on disaster resilience governance. This was followed by field activities from April 25–30, 2026, in Karo Regency—one of the disaster-prone areas in North Sumatra—and Medan City. These field activities allowed participants to directly observe local disaster governance practices.

According to Dra. Asima, the combination of theoretical learning and hands-on field experience proved effective in enhancing participants’ understanding of real-world challenges faced by local governments in managing disaster risks.

“This program shows that combining online learning, academic discussions, and field research can significantly strengthen participants’ understanding of real issues at the local level,” she added.

She also highlighted that the program successfully built strong international networks while strengthening collaboration between USU and local governments. The outcomes of the program are expected to be followed up through the development of relevant and applicable policy briefs for local decision-making.

“Going forward, the program can be further developed with broader participation, stronger international collaboration, and more tangible policy contributions for regional development,” she concluded.

Through this International Summer Course, USU reaffirms its role as a higher education institution that not only advances knowledge but also contributes to delivering concrete solutions to global challenges, particularly in strengthening local leadership and disaster resilience toward sustainable development.