MEDAN, September 7, 2026 | The leadership and lecturers of the Mining Engineering Study Program, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sumatera Utara (FT USU), held a coordination meeting with representatives of the Faculty of Engineering to discuss the preparation of a Draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Implementation Agreement (IA) for a proposed collaboration with the Underground Mining Training Center of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) of the Republic of Indonesia in Sawahlunto, West Sumatra.
The meeting was held on Monday, September 7, 2026, at the Mining Engineering Study Program Meeting Room, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sumatera Utara. The meeting served as an important step in preparing the substance and implementation framework of the proposed institutional collaboration, particularly in the areas of education, training, research, community service, and human resource competency development in the mining sector.
The coordination meeting was attended by representatives of the Faculty of Engineering staff, namely Lenny Anggrina, S. Sos., Puteri Ananda Br Sembiring, S.H., and Amar Husin, S.T. Representatives from the Mining Engineering Study Program included Dr. Adri Huda, S.Si., Heri Adhahari, S.T., M.T., and Edi Yasa Ardiansyah, S.T., M.T.
The discussion focused on refining the Draft MoU and IA to ensure that the proposed collaboration has a clear scope and can be translated into concrete and implementable programs. The documents are expected to serve as the foundation for future collaboration between the Faculty of Engineering, USU, and the ESDM Underground Mining Training Center in Sawahlunto.
Strengthening Underground Mining Competencies
The proposed collaboration holds strategic significance for the Mining Engineering Study Program at FT USU, particularly in strengthening competencies in underground mining systems.
The ESDM Underground Mining Training Center in Sawahlunto specializes in education and training related to underground mining. As an educational and training institution under the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Indonesia, the center provides an important opportunity for higher education institutions to strengthen learning, professional training, and competency development for students and academic staff in the field of underground mining.
Through the proposed collaboration, students of the Mining Engineering Study Program at FT USU are expected to have opportunities to broaden their learning experiences through practical and application-oriented activities. Such activities can complement the theoretical knowledge gained in the classroom with practical insights and experiences related to underground mining operations.
In addition to student competency development, the collaboration may also support the professional development of lecturers through training programs, workshops, seminars, knowledge exchange, and other relevant academic and professional activities.
Promoting Research and Community Engagement
The proposed collaboration will also focus on the development of research and community service activities. Joint research opportunities may cover strategic issues in underground mining, including occupational health and safety, mine ventilation, geomechanics, mining methods, mining technology, environmental management, risk management, and the application of digital technologies in underground mining operations.
Such collaboration is expected to encourage applied research that responds to the needs of the mining sector while contributing to the advancement of mining science and technology in Indonesia.
In the area of community service, the collaboration may include capacity-building programs, mining safety education, community empowerment, regional potential development, and other initiatives aligned with the expertise and institutional capabilities of both parties.
MoU and IA as a Foundation for Collaborative Programs
During the coordination meeting, the preparation of the MoU and IA became a central focus. The MoU will provide the general framework for institutional cooperation, while the IA will translate the broader agreement into more specific, measurable, and implementable programs and activities.
Therefore, the proposed collaboration is expected to go beyond the formal signing of institutional documents and lead to tangible programs that provide benefits to both institutions, particularly for students, lecturers, researchers, and stakeholders in the mining sector.
The Mining Engineering Study Program at FT USU views the proposed collaboration with the ESDM Underground Mining Training Center in Sawahlunto as a strategic step toward strengthening the connection between higher education, government institutions, training centers, and the mining industry.
Through this synergy, FT USU is expected to further strengthen the development of mining human resources equipped with academic knowledge, technical skills, occupational safety awareness, and the ability to adapt to technological developments in the mining sector.
The coordination meeting held at the Mining Engineering Study Program Meeting Room on September 7, 2026, marked an initial stage in advancing the proposed institutional collaboration. The outcomes of the discussion will serve as input for further refinement of the Draft MoU and IA before proceeding to the next stage in accordance with the cooperation mechanisms of Universitas Sumatera Utara.
The proposed collaboration is expected to become a concrete step toward strengthening education, research, and competency development in underground mining while supporting the development of professional, competent, safety-oriented, and future-ready mining human resources in Indonesia.