South Korea – 19 October 2026. The Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), continues to strengthen its commitment to internationalizing the Architecture Study Program through an academic visit to the College of Architecture, Myongji University (CAMU), at the Natural Science Campus in Yongin. This activity is part of efforts to improve the quality of architectural education, which has received international accreditation from the Korea Architectural Accrediting Board (KAAB).

The USU Faculty of Engineering delegation was led by Prof. Ar. Ir. Nurlisa Ginting, M.Sc., Ph.D., IAI, as Team Leader, accompanied by Adj. Prof. Asrul Mahjuddin Ressang, Ar. Selly Veronica, S.T., M.T., IAI, and Utari Ardha Damanik, S.Ars., a student in the Master's Program in Urban and Regional Planning.

The delegation was officially welcomed by Prof. Junsuk Lee (Head of the Department of Architecture, CAMU), together with Prof. Yeong Min Kim and CAMU's senior professors, namely Prof. Kyeong Jae Lee, Prof. Jihoon Song, Prof. Jae In Lee, Prof. Soohyun Nam, Prof. Nam Hoon Kim, and Prof. Jong Woo Lee.

The institutional visit included a comparative study of internationally standardized architecture curricula, an evaluation of learning structures, and an examination of key academic facilities. The USU Faculty of Engineering delegation also visited design studios, computer laboratories, and design workshops as part of its benchmarking of CAMU's architectural learning environment.

Beyond curriculum and facilities, the two institutions also mapped faculty members' areas of expertise and exchanged information about the academic strengths of their respective study programs. These discussions were important in identifying areas with potential for development through academic and research collaboration.

The discussions also covered opportunities to develop student exchange programs, research collaboration, and curriculum enhancement in line with global developments in architectural education. These exploratory discussions were intended to ensure that the cooperation would go beyond ceremonial activities and develop into academic programs that deliver tangible benefits to students and lecturers at both institutions.

For the Architecture Study Program at the USU Faculty of Engineering, this visit is part of an ongoing process to maintain curriculum relevance, the quality of teaching and learning, and the readiness of academic resources to meet international standards. The experiences and best practices gained from CAMU are expected to serve as references for developing an increasingly adaptive and competitive architectural education system.

This activity also supports the achievement of institutional performance indicators, particularly in partnerships, curriculum development, academic governance, and internationalization. Networks with overseas universities serve as a strategic means of expanding access to knowledge, academic practices, and cross-border collaboration opportunities.

In the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this activity contributes to SDG 4 – Quality Education through improvements in educational quality, alignment of academic standards, and the development of learning facilities, as well as SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals through the development of international partnerships between higher education institutions.

Through this academic visit to the College of Architecture, Myongji University, the USU Faculty of Engineering reaffirms its commitment to continuously expanding its global network, improving the quality of architectural education, and building international collaborations that support academic development, research, and the mobility of the academic community.