Prof. Ar. Beny Octofryana Yousca Marpaung, S.T., M.T., Ph.D., IAI., IPM., a lecturer in MPWK FT USU, was a speaker at the international forum Week of Indonesia-Netherlands Education and Research (WINNER) 2026 in the session “Coastal Futures: Bridging Sea-Attachment and Quality Living through Education for Coastal Children in Indonesia and the Netherlands,” which was held in a hybrid format on October 7, 2026.
Key Discussion Points:
Spatial Policy & Coastal Morphology: Understanding coastal areas not only as physical spaces but also as social, cultural, economic, and educational spaces.
Coastal Education Conditions: Highlighting the decline in educational participation in coastal areas of North Sumatra, such as Kampung Nelayan Seberang, Belawan, with an elementary-to-junior-high-to-senior-high school participation ratio of 5:3:1.
Contextual Education (Place-Based Learning): Integrating local knowledge, tidal phenomena, tidal flooding, and coastal culture into the formal education curriculum.
Participatory Development: Encouraging collaboration among the government, academics, and communities so that coastal area development is carried out together with local communities.
Indonesia–Netherlands Comparison: Comparing challenges in educational access and limitations in Indonesia with the education system in the Netherlands, which is able to maintain younger generations' connection to knowledge of the marine environment.
Support for the SDGs and Key Performance Indicators (IKU):
Contribution to the SDGs: Supporting SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 17 (Partnerships).
IKU Achievements: Promoting the achievement of IKU 5 (Strategic Partnerships), IKU 6 (International Research/Academic Reputation), IKU 7 (Applied Research & Impactful Policies), IKU 8 (Lecturers Engaging in Activities Outside Campus), and IKU 11 (Collaborative Learning & Social Contribution).