Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) strengthened its international network and expanded institutional partnerships across Africa through its participation in the QS Africa Forum 2026, held on July 9–10, 2026, at the Sheraton Addis in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Held under the theme "Skills, Systems & Sustainable Futures," the forum brought together university leaders, policymakers, academics, and strategic partners to discuss skills development, the strengthening of education systems, and international collaboration in building a more inclusive and sustainable future for higher education.

The forum was organized by QS Quacquarelli Symonds in collaboration with United Arab Emirates University as the host institution.

The USU delegation was led by the Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, and Partnerships, Prof. Dr. Eng. Himsar Ambarita, S.T., M.T., and included:

  • The Dean of the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology;
  • The Dean of the Faculty of Public Health; and

  • The Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business.

Expanding USU's Global Network in Africa

USU's participation in the QS Africa Forum 2026 forms part of the university's internationalization strategy, particularly in expanding academic and institutional partnerships with higher education institutions across Africa.

Through the forum, the USU delegation explored opportunities for collaborative research to address global challenges and promote sustainable development. Potential areas of cooperation include USU's research strengths in public health, food security, digital transformation, renewable energy, environmental sustainability, economic development, and community resilience.

USU also introduced various academic mobility opportunities for students and faculty members. These include student exchange programs, faculty exchanges, visiting professor appointments, joint research, international seminars, and other forms of academic collaboration designed to provide mutual benefits for partner institutions.

In addition, the delegation promoted the Developing Countries Partnership Scholarship (KNB Scholarship) to prospective students and partner universities in Africa.

The promotion of the KNB Scholarship reflects USU's commitment to expanding access to higher education for students from developing countries, fostering cross-cultural academic engagement, and strengthening people-to-people relations between Indonesia and African nations.

Meeting with the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia

As part of the visit, the USU delegation also held a strategic meeting with H.E. Faizal Chery Sidharta, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, with concurrent accreditation to the Republic of Djibouti, the State of Eritrea, and the African Union.

The discussion focused on potential academic and institutional collaborations that could be facilitated through the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Addis Ababa.

Among the initiatives discussed were the promotion of the KNB Scholarship, visiting professor programs, student and faculty mobility, and expanding collaboration between USU and universities in Ethiopia as well as other African countries.

The Indonesian Embassy in Addis Ababa is expected to serve as a strategic bridge by identifying prospective university partners, facilitating communication with local stakeholders, and promoting higher education opportunities in Indonesia to students and academics across Africa.

Also attending the meeting from the Embassy were Paulina Gupta Wijaya, First Secretary, Head of Chancery, and Officer for Economic Affairs, and Salman Aditya, a staff member of the Information, Social, and Cultural Affairs Section.

Their participation provided USU with the opportunity to discuss the diplomatic, administrative, economic, and socio-cultural support required to establish sustainable academic partnerships.

Supporting USU's Vision as a World-Class University

USU's participation in the QS Africa Forum 2026 and its strategic dialogue with the Indonesian Embassy in Addis Ababa represent important steps toward strengthening the university's position as a globally connected institution.

The initiative is expected to create strategic partnerships that will benefit students, faculty members, researchers, and academic units throughout the university.

Participation in this international higher education forum also enhances USU's global visibility and demonstrates the university's commitment to advancing sustainable development through education, research, innovation, and international collaboration.

The initiative directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, by strengthening global partnerships and international cooperation.

It also contributes to SDG 4: Quality Education through the promotion of scholarships, student and faculty exchange programs, visiting professor initiatives, and expanded access to quality higher education.

Furthermore, the research and innovation collaborations explored during the forum support SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, particularly in advancing science, technology, innovation, and sustainable education systems.

Through continued communication and collaboration with African universities, supported by the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Addis Ababa, USU is committed to transforming these exploratory discussions into concrete initiatives, including student and faculty mobility programs, visiting professorships, joint research projects, scholarship promotion, and long-term institutional partnerships.