In line with this commitment, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) participated in the Global Sustainable Development Congress (GSDC) 2026, held in Tangerang, Indonesia. The event served as an important platform for USU to strengthen its international presence while reaffirming the University's commitment to advancing the global sustainable development agenda.

The congress was attended by Prof. Dr. Muryanto Amin, S.Sos., M.Si., Rector of USU; Prof. Dr. Eng. Himsar Ambarita, S.T., M.T., Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, and Cooperation; and Zaid Perdana Nasution, S.T., M.T., Ph.D., Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Cooperation, and Internationalization of the Faculty of Engineering, USU. The forum also featured Tan Sri Sir Dr. Jeffrey Cheah KBE AO, Founder and Chairman of Sunway Group, as one of its keynote speakers.

During the GSDC 2026, USU achieved another significant milestone in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2026. The University advanced to the 401+ global ranking, a substantial improvement from its 801+ position in the previous edition. This achievement reflects USU's growing contribution to sustainable development through excellence in education, research, community engagement, innovation, institutional governance, and international collaboration.

THE Impact Rankings is a globally recognized university ranking system that evaluates higher education institutions based on their contributions to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The assessment covers a wide range of indicators, including poverty alleviation, food security, quality education, gender equality, health, environmental sustainability, and global partnerships.

In the 2026 edition, USU recorded outstanding performances across several SDG categories. The University ranked 91st globally for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and 93rd globally for SDG 14 (Life Below Water). In addition, USU was placed within the 101+ global category for SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).

These achievements further reinforce the University's contribution to SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) while also supporting SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). The Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sumatera Utara, remains committed to strengthening education, research, innovation, community engagement, and international partnerships as part of its ongoing contribution to sustainable development.