USU PUBLIC RELATIONS – Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), in collaboration with the Muroran Institute of Technology (MuIT), Japan, held the International Joint Training Program and the “4th USU–MuIT Joint Conference 2026” on Monday (September 14, 2026). Held at the USU IMT-GT Room, the event served as a platform for exchanging knowledge, experiences, and research findings between students and academics from the two institutions.

In his remarks, USU Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, and Cooperation, Prof. Dr. Eng. Himsar Ambarita, S.T., M.T., stated that the partnership between USU and Muroran Institute of Technology has a long-standing history.

He explained that collaboration between the two institutions has continued for several decades through various academic activities, ranging from student exchanges and joint research to the organization of international conferences.

“Muroran and USU have a long history of collaboration. Many professors and researchers have been involved in this partnership. Today, we are continuing the joint conference between Universitas Sumatera Utara and Muroran,” he said.

Meanwhile, Prof. Yoshihiko Oishi from the Division of Mechanical Systems and Materials Engineering at Muroran Institute of Technology stated that the main objective of the conference was to strengthen international collaboration through the exchange of research information.

(Photo: Amri Affandi Simatupang)

According to him, the event provided students and researchers with an opportunity to present their research findings, share knowledge, and develop new ideas through academic discussions.

“The purpose of this conference is to strengthen international collaboration and bring together research information. We hope that this conference can continue in the future,” said Prof. Yoshihiko.

James Haryanto, a Mechanical Engineering student at USU, said that the event provided a new experience in understanding the development of research conducted by students in Japan and Indonesia.

He noted that interactions with students from Muroran Institute of Technology provided an opportunity to observe differences in research approaches and exchange ideas for advancing knowledge.

“This activity allows us to learn about how research is conducted in Japan and Indonesia. From here, we can combine ideas and discuss them at this conference,” he said.

The 4th USU–MuIT Joint Conference 2026 is expected to further strengthen academic ties between Universitas Sumatera Utara and Muroran Institute of Technology while creating broader opportunities for international research collaboration among students and academics from both countries.