Medan, September 23, 2026 – The Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Sumatera Utara, collaborated with the Consulate General of India in Medan to organize Ayurveda Day 2026. The event, which highlighted the rich traditional medicinal knowledge of India, was held on September 23, 2026, at the 2nd Floor Hall of the Faculty of Pharmacy USU.

This activity served as an important moment to strengthen academic relations and international cooperation between the Faculty of Pharmacy USU and India, particularly in the fields of pharmacy, medicinal plants, traditional medicine, and the development of scientific knowledge based on local wisdom.

Ayurveda Day 2026 was attended by the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy USU, Prof. Khairunnisa, S.Si., M.Pharm., Ph.D., Apt.; Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Cooperation, and Internationalization, Dr. Apt. Henny Sri Wahyuni, S.Farm., M.Si.; and the Consul General of India in Medan, Mr. Ravi Shanker Goel.

The event also featured speakers who provided academic and practical perspectives on Ayurveda, including Prof. Dr. Sumit Naithani from the National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur; Muhammad Fauzan Lubis, S.Farm., M.Farm., Apt. from Universitas Sumatera Utara; Prof. Dr. Gautam from Jawaharlal Nehru University, India; and Ita Wiradi from Himalaya Wellness, Jakarta.

The activity was also attended by representatives of the North Sumatra Provincial Government, lecturers, and students of the Faculty of Pharmacy USU. The participation of these various groups demonstrated strong interest in developing knowledge about Ayurveda and exploring opportunities for its integration with advances in modern pharmaceutical sciences.

In her remarks, the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy USU, Prof. Khairunnisa, expressed her appreciation for the renewed collaboration between the Faculty of Pharmacy USU and the Consulate General of India in Medan through the organization of Ayurveda Day.

“We are very pleased to collaborate once again with the Consulate General of India in Medan in organizing this very meaningful event. India and Indonesia share a rich heritage of medicinal plants and traditional knowledge. For us in the field of pharmacy, this heritage offers great opportunities for scientific exploration and innovation,” she said.

According to her, Ayurveda Day not only provides a space to become more familiar with and gain a deeper understanding of Ayurveda but also serves as a platform for bringing traditional knowledge together with developments in modern pharmaceutical sciences.

“Therefore, I believe that Ayurveda Day is not merely an opportunity to learn more about Ayurveda. This event is also an important platform for bridging traditional wisdom with modern pharmaceutical sciences,” Prof. Khairunnisa continued.

Furthermore, Prof. Khairunnisa expressed her hope that the established collaboration could develop into more concrete academic partnerships between Universitas Sumatera Utara and various educational and research institutions in India.

“Beyond today's event, we also hope that this collaboration will continue to develop into more concrete academic partnerships, including joint research, academic exchanges, student and staff mobility, guest lectures, and other collaborative programs between Universitas Sumatera Utara and institutions in India,” she explained.

The organization of Ayurveda Day 2026 also provided an opportunity for students and lecturers of the Faculty of Pharmacy USU to gain insights into Ayurveda directly from academics and practitioners with experience in the field. This exchange of knowledge is expected to enrich the perspectives of the academic community in understanding the potential of medicinal plants and traditional medicine through a scientific approach.

The collaboration between the Faculty of Pharmacy USU and the Consulate General of India in Medan also supports the internationalization of higher education by strengthening cross-country academic networks. This cooperation is expected to serve as an initial step toward developing various sustainable collaborative programs in education, research, and community service.

From the perspective of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Ayurveda Day 2026 is relevant to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being through the development of knowledge about health and the use of medicinal plants; SDG 4: Quality Education through knowledge exchange and academic learning; and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals through strengthening partnerships among higher education institutions, international academic institutions, government, and related sectors.

Through this activity, the Faculty of Pharmacy USU reaffirms its commitment to expanding international cooperation while promoting the scientific exploration of traditional knowledge to support the development of pharmaceutical sciences and health innovation in the future.