USK International Student Explores USU Summer Course
Saeed Hyder, an international master’s student at the Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK), has successfully completed his participation in the International Summer Course of Pharmacy (ISCP) 2026, organized by Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), 17-25 June 2026.
Saeed, who is also a recipient of the Kemitraan Negara Berkembang (KNB) Scholarship Batch 2024, joined 17 other participants from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, and Tanzania.
This year’s program carried the theme “Towards a Sustainable Smoke-Free Generation: Innovation and Action in Tobacco Control,” highlighting the importance of collaborative efforts in promoting public health and sustainable development.
For Saeed, ISCP 2026 offered a well-structured and highly rewarding academic experience. He noted that the program successfully balanced theoretical knowledge with practical application, creating meaningful learning outcomes for all participants.
“The environment was highly diverse and collaborative, allowing for meaningful discussions and knowledge exchange,” Saeed shared.
He emphasized that one of the most valuable aspects of the program was the opportunity to interact with participants from diverse cultural backgrounds. The learning process was further enriched by supportive lecturers who encouraged active participation and collaborative learning.
Beyond the academic sessions, participants explored the natural beauty of North Sumatra through a visit to Bukit Lawang. “We hiked through the rainforest for two to three hours before returning to the hotel by rafting. It was an unforgettable experience. The activity was not only physically challenging but also strengthened friendships among participants outside the classroom,” he said.
Having lived in Indonesia for the past two years while pursuing his higher education, Saeed explained that adapting to Indonesian culture and daily life has been relatively easy.
Saeed’s participation in the program was warmly appreciated by Prof. Dr. Syamsidik, S.T., M.Sc., Head of the Global Partnership Office of Universitas Syiah Kuala. He emphasized that the involvement of international students in national academic programs plays an important role in broadening perspectives and strengthening international networks.
“We are proud to see our international students actively participating in various international academic programs and representing USK at the national level. Experiences like this not only enrich their academic achievements but also strengthen global collaboration and foster cross-cultural understanding,” Prof. Syamsidik stated.
He further expressed his hope that opportunities such as this would provide international students at USK with broader insights into higher education, while expanding their academic perspectives and intercultural experiences throughout their studies in Indonesia.
