Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) is collaborating with Chiba University of Commerce (CUC), which is one of the leading universities in Japan because it carries the concept of a 100 percent renewable energy university. The MoU between the two universities was carried out to strengthen the internationalization program of both parties.

USU Rector Prof. Dr. Muryanto Amin, S.Sos, M.Si, who during his visit to CUC, Japan was accompanied by Vice Rector for Finance and Human Resources Muhammad Arifin Nasution, S.Sos, MSP, explained that the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Chiba University of Commerce in Japan is for joint research, student and staff exchange, visiting professor and guest lecture programs where there will be lecturers or professors from Chiba University of Commerce who will teach for USU.

"This cooperation is expected to increase international research collaboration, as well as increase international exposure for USU students so that they can better adapt to the outside world. In order for this collaboration to run as desired, it is hoped that there will be program supervision so that it is focused and sustainable," said the chancellor in his statement, Thursday (12/10/2023).

USU's collaboration with CUC itself has been established since several years ago, marked by the existence of USU students who have carried out exchange programs, namely three students in 2015, one student in 2017 and finally two students in 2019. The presence of the USU delegation to CUC itself is expected to be able to increase wider collaboration, especially in collaborative research.

Prof Mury also hopes to learn from CUC regarding the application of the concept of renewable energy university and the application of an integrated CUC research center. "Through this cooperation, we encourage cooperation for publication and citation, collaboration research for doctoral programs and others," he said.

Chiba University of Commerce itself has excellence in economics, accounting, sustainability and research study programs. Prof Mury hopes that although it is about economics and accounting, the PhD program offered must still be related to IT.

"USU is also willing to provide housing for CUC lecturers or teaching staff who will be sent to USU. In 2024, USU hopes that all the cooperation that has been planned can be realized immediately," said Prof. Mury.

President of Chiba University Toshinori Nakayama welcomed the cooperation with USU. CUC itself was founded in 1928 as an accounting school and officially became a university in 1950. The main campus is located in Ichikawa City, Chiba Prefecture, just 30 minutes from Tokyo.

"The university is part of the Global Partnership of Asian Colleges which is a group of nine universities from Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, China, and Israel. The aim of this partnership is to encourage students to study at partner universities," he said.

The partnership with USU, according to Toshinori Nakayama, will add to his university's global partnerships. Therefore, the agreed MoU will be followed up immediately. "We will immediately tabulate the names of professors who can accommodate international students to realize this MoU," he said.

As previously reported, USU Rector Prof Muryanto Amin together with the Vice Rector for Finance and Human Resources, Muhammad Arifin Nasution, SSos, MSP, Head of Priority Program Evaluation Agency Ikhsan Siregar, ST, MEng and Director of Internationalization and Global Partnership Prof Dr Eng Himsar Ambarita, ST, MT made a working visit to Japan to open up opportunities for cooperation in realizing USU's internationalization program.