Medan, July 24, 2026 – The Undergraduate and Master's Programs in Architecture and Urban and Regional Planning at the Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sumatera Utara (FT USU) strengthened their international academic collaboration with Universiti Malaya through discussions on the PRO-Senggara Institusi Pendidikan: Empowering a Building Maintenance Culture to Strengthen School Safety and Sustainability program. The initiative has been proposed under Universiti Malaya's Community Tier 2 Program within the Program Citra Akademik untuk Komuniti dan Alam (CAKnA) scheme.

The meeting, held at Universitas Sumatera Utara, brought together representatives from both universities to discuss the program's implementation plan, the division of responsibilities among the academic teams, community knowledge transfer strategies, and opportunities for long-term collaboration. The discussion was welcomed by Prof. Dr. Eng. Himsar Ambarita, S.T., M.T., Vice Rector III for Research, Innovation, and Cooperation at USU. The FT USU academic team involved in the collaboration includes Dr. Ar. Wahyuni Zahrah, S.T., M.S., IAI; Ir. Ar. Achmad Delianur Nasution, S.T., M.T., IAI., AA., IAP., GP; Prof. Ar. Ir. Nurlisa Ginting, M.Sc., Ph.D., IAI; Prof. Dr. Ir. Dwira Nirfalini Aulia, M.Sc.; Prof. Ar. Beny Octofryana Yousca Marpaung, S.T., M.T., Ph.D., IAI., IPM; and Ar. Selly Veronica, S.T., M.T., IAI, who will serve as co-researchers and academic partners.

The PRO-Senggara program is designed as a community engagement and knowledge transfer initiative focusing on school building inspection, maintenance, and early damage reporting. The program is planned to be implemented in collaboration with Sekolah Kebangsaan Pengkalan Baharu in Batu Gajah, Perak, Malaysia, involving students, teachers, school staff, and the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) as the primary beneficiaries.

Planned activities include the "Senggara Itu Ilmu" (Maintenance is Knowledge) awareness campaign to help participants recognize early signs of building deterioration, the establishment of a student-led Senggara Squad, and Train-the-Trainer sessions on visual inspections and basic building condition assessments. The team also plans to develop a standard operating procedure (SOP) manual for building maintenance and a digital inspection checklist to support systematic monitoring and reporting.

If implemented as planned, these initiatives are expected to help school communities identify potential risks at an early stage, carry out preventive maintenance, and enhance the safety of school facilities. Regular monitoring may also help prevent minor defects from developing into major structural issues, extend the lifespan of school buildings, and reduce material waste and maintenance costs.

Through knowledge transfer and capacity building, the program contributes to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education by promoting safe and supportive learning environments. Sustainable maintenance of educational facilities also aligns with SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, while the collaboration among FT USU, Universiti Malaya, and the school community reinforces SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

This initiative reflects FT USU's commitment to advancing community engagement through professional expertise, international collaboration, and sustainable development.