The Undergraduate Program in Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sumatera Utara, is preparing for the Building Construction Workshop through a collaboration with the Vocational and Technical College of Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, China. The program, scheduled to take place from November 2 to December 3, 2026, is designed to involve 41 students as participants.
As part of the technical preparations, instructors from China conducted an initial inspection of the Structural Laboratory of the Undergraduate Program in Civil Engineering. The visit focused on the condition of the practice rooms, facility readiness, and the availability of materials and equipment to be used during the construction learning activities.
The laboratory inspection is an important step in ensuring that practical requirements are available before the learning process begins. Thorough preparation is necessary because the program uses a hands-on learning approach, allowing students not only to receive theoretical explanations but also to participate directly in various stages of building structural work.
The planned materials include stair reinforcement installation, formwork, and foundation construction. Instructors from the international partner institution will provide direct explanations and technical guidance, while lecturers from the Undergraduate Program in Civil Engineering will serve as academic supervisors throughout the learning activities.
The involvement of 41 students provides opportunities to develop technical skills, precision, and an understanding of construction work methods. Interaction with international instructors also introduces different learning perspectives while broadening students' insights into civil engineering practices in a global educational environment.
The collaboration also brings together theoretical knowledge acquired in the classroom and applied experience in the laboratory. This approach is expected to help students develop competencies that are more relevant to the needs of the construction sector while improving their ability to adapt to developments in structural work methods and technologies.
This activity primarily supports SDG 4 – Quality Education through strengthening practical learning and providing students with international experience. SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure and SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals are also supported through the development of construction competencies and collaboration between higher education institutions. The Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sumatera Utara, continues to promote education that is practical, innovative, collaborative, and oriented toward improving student competencies.
Through practice-based learning and global academic networks, the Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sumatera Utara, continues to promote civil engineering education that is practical, collaborative, and responsive to industrial developments. This experience is expected to equip students with the foundation to develop professional competencies and competitiveness in facing challenges in the construction sector at both national and international levels.