Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU), through its Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FKIK), in collaboration with Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Perlis, Malaysia, held a Cultural Exchange and the Closing Ceremony of the Health Explore program at the Auditorium of the UMSU Campus on Jalan Muchtar Basri No. 3, Medan, on Saturday (January 10).
The event marked the conclusion of a two-day series of international collaborative programs in the fields of health and cultural exchange.
The ceremony was attended by the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs of UiTM Perlis, Associate Professor Dr. Ahmad Fikri bin Muhammad Kasim; Vice Dean I of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FKIK) UMSU, Dr. Rahmanita Sinaga, M.Ked (OG), Sp.OG; faculty members; and students from both universities.
In her remarks, Vice Dean I of FKIK UMSU, Dr. Rahmanita Sinaga, emphasized that the activity was not merely ceremonial but represented an important milestone in strengthening cross-border collaboration.
“This cultural exchange is not just a ceremonial celebration, but a platform for sharing perspectives, fostering mutual respect, and strengthening cross-cultural understanding between Indonesia and Malaysia,” she said.
She also explained that the program featured a variety of educational activities, ranging from group exercise sessions and health talks to health exploration activities that directly engaged the community.
“Students from UiTM and FKIK UMSU were directly involved in community villages to provide health education. This has delivered tangible benefits for the people of Medan,” she added.
Meanwhile, the Program Coordinator of the Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation at UiTM Perlis, Dr. Ahmad Zulkarnain bin Ismail, stated that Health Explore 7.0 had previously been conducted only in Malaysia and that this year marked its first international implementation.
“This is the first time the Health Explore program has been held outside Malaysia, and UMSU in Indonesia was chosen as the first partner. Congratulations to everyone involved,” he said.
Dr. Ahmad noted that the success of the program was the result of the students’ hard work and close collaboration with UMSU. “Thank you for the warm hospitality extended by UMSU,” he added.
Associate Professor Dr. Ahmad Fikri bin Muhammad Kasim also expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome from UMSU and expressed hope that the collaboration would continue in the future.
The closing ceremony was enlivened by cultural and dance performances from UiTM Perlis and UMSU’s Student Activity Unit for Arts and Culture. The performances showcased the richness of Malay culture and the ethnic diversity of North Sumatra through modern choreography.
As a form of appreciation, UMSU presented certificates to the UiTM Perlis leadership and participating students. The event concluded with a group photo session and a reaffirmation of both institutions’ commitment to continuing cooperation in education, research, community service, and cultural exchange.
