The Social Welfare Study Program of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), once again reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening academic internationalization through the organization of an International Summer Course entitled “Empowerment Practices for Disadvantaged People.” This activity was conducted from October 7 to 14, 2024, and involved participants from various countries.
This program was organized by the Social Welfare Study Program of FISIP USU, with Dr. Husni Thamrin, S.Sos., MSP, serving as the program chair, and was supported by a cross-disciplinary team of lecturers. The Summer Course was part of the Academic Internationalization Grant of Universitas Sumatera Utara for the 2024 Fiscal Year.
Participants came from diverse backgrounds and countries, including Pakistan, India, the Philippines, Egypt, Algeria, Yemen, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Gambia, Zambia, Ukraine, as well as students from various universities across Indonesia. This diversity of participants’ origins created a multicultural academic atmosphere that enriched the learning process and cross-perspective discussions.
The types of activities in this Summer Course were divided into two main forms, namely international lectures (online and blended learning) and field visits. The lecture sessions featured international academics and practitioners who discussed issues related to community empowerment, global social work, and the development of welfare and civilization. Meanwhile, the field visit activities were conducted in several areas of North Sumatra, such as Asahan Regency, Parapat, and Samosir Island, serving as a means of field observation and community-based mini-research.
Overall, the activity lasted for eight effective days, covering lectures, academic discussions, field observations, joint reflections with communities, as well as the closing session and a city tour in Medan City. The targeted and achieved outputs of the activity included increased participant capacity in understanding empowerment practices for disadvantaged groups, the establishment of international academic networks, the involvement of international lecturers in the tridharma of higher education, and encouragement of joint scientific publications between USU academics and international partners.
Through the organization of this International Summer Course, FISIP USU is expected to further strengthen its position as a center for the development of globally oriented social sciences and to make tangible contributions to humanitarian and social welfare issues at the international level.