Navigating Collaboration and Internationalization at Universitas Negeri Medan in the 21st Century

Erond Litno Damanik, Suci Pujiastuti, Maya Oktora

Universitas Negeri Medan

Internationalization and strategic collaboration have shifted from optional activities to essential tools for higher education institutions, aiming to maintain institutional relevance. Universitas Negeri Medan faces significant challenges in reconciling the traditional mandate as a former Teacher Training and Education Institute with the demands of competitive globalization. Therefore, this research aimed to analyze the dynamics, evaluate achievements, and map obstacles in collaborative governance at Universitas Negeri Medan, using data from 2020 to 2025. The results showed that based on internal data from the Office of International Affairs throughout the period, the university established 46 international Memoranda of Understanding and 112 Memoranda of Agreement, as well as 284 national MoUs and 742 MoAs. These partnerships contribute directly and linearly to the fulfillment of Key Performance Indicators, especially IKU-2, -3, -5, and -6. However, a critical analysis identified structural gaps, including bureaucratic obstacles, limited stimulus funds, and language barriers, that contribute to the low conversion ratio of macro MoUs into active MoAs at the research program level. These results contribute to an evidence-based policy recommendation model to minimize inequality. The evaluation also serves as a strategic basis for government agency performance reports, accelerating the quantum leap toward World-Class University status without abandoning local cultural wisdom.

Article link: https://www.asianinstituteofresearch.org/EQRarchives/navigating-collaboration-and-internationalization-at-universitas-negeri-medan-in-the-21st-century-