20 November 2023
Threesna Sharfina
Faculty of Dentistry (FKG) Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) and Faculty of Dentistry Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia collaborated through an online meeting that took place on November 20, 2023. This meeting was conducted through the Zoom platform as a response to the need for cross-country collaboration in the digital era.
The meeting discussed various issues related to the development of dental education, research, and the exchange of experiences between the two institutions. One of the main points discussed was the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) which will form the basis for cooperation between the two parties.
Also attending the online meeting were Dean of Faculty of Dentistry USU Dr. Essie Octiara, drg., Sp.KGA, Subsp.PKOA(K), Vice Dean I Dr. Olivia Avriyanti Hanafiah, drg., Sp.BMM.COM(K) and Vice Dean III Dr. Pitu Wulandari, drg., SPi, Sp.Perio(K) as well as a team from the Cooperation section of Faculty of Dentistry USU.
Dr. Essie Octiara, drg., Sp.KGA, Subsp.PKOA(K), Dean of FKG USU, stated, “This collaboration is an important step in broadening students' horizons, improving the quality of education, and encouraging knowledge exchange in the field of dentistry between Indonesia and Malaysia. Through the Zoom platform, we can easily communicate and design better cooperation.”
At the meeting, the Faculty of Dentistry of USU and the Faculty of Dentistry of Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia agreed to support each other in developing a curriculum that is relevant to the latest developments in the field of dentistry. In addition, they will facilitate student and staff exchanges, providing opportunities to participate in international exchange programs that enrich students' learning experiences.
Dr. Ainuddin Yushar Bin Yusop, Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, added, “This collaboration is a testament to our commitment to creating an inclusive and globally oriented academic environment. We hope that this collaboration will not only benefit the students and staff of both institutions, but will also have a positive impact on the development of dentistry in the region.”
Entering the digital era, cross-border cooperation like this is becoming increasingly relevant and allows the exchange of ideas and knowledge without geographical restrictions. It is hoped that the collaboration between the Faculty of Dentistry of USU and the Faculty of Dentistry of Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia through this MoA will bring long-term benefits to both institutions and improve the quality of dental education in both countries.
