HUMAS USU – Students of Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) have once again brought pride to both the university and Indonesia by winning awards at the International SDGs Youth Development Program, organized by the International Youth Innovation Summit (IYIS) in collaboration with the International Youth Excursion Network (IYEN). The competition was held in Malaysia from May 18–21, 2026.

The program aims to provide young people with opportunities to learn and broaden their international perspectives through discussions on International SDGs Development. In addition to serving as a platform for exchanging ideas, the event also functions as a competition where Indonesian youth can present innovative and creative solutions that support sustainable development and contribute to national progress.

In the competition, USU student Mytha Nur Anggrainy from the Development Economics Study Program, Class of 2023, joined a team consisting of Muhammad Azmi Auf, team leader and a student of the Master's Program in Educational Management at Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Kalijaga, and Nur Ikhlas from the International Relations Study Program at Universitas Al-Azhar Indonesia, Class of 2023. Together, the team demonstrated strong collaboration and innovation by presenting ideas aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Mytha and her team introduced an innovation in the education sector that addresses SDG 4: Quality Education. Their innovation, called EDUFUND (Education Funding), is a crowdfunding-based platform designed to support educational equity in Indonesia, particularly in underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost regions (3T areas).

“The funds collected can be utilized for various educational needs, such as supporting school operations, improving educators’ welfare, and upgrading educational facilities and infrastructure,” she explained.

Through this approach, EDUFUND serves not only as a fundraising platform but also as a collaborative ecosystem that connects educational institutions, communities, and strategic partners within an integrated system.

The platform features three main components:

• Program-Based Donations: Educational institutions can create campaigns based on specific needs, such as operational funding, teacher support, or facility improvement.

• Transparency and Real-Time Reporting: Every donation can be openly monitored by the public.

• Donation Impact Tracking: Donors can directly observe the tangible outcomes of their contributions.

Mytha revealed that her team won two prestigious awards during the competition: 1st Best Project Innovation and 1st Best Presentation. These awards recognized both the innovation they developed and the team’s ability to present their ideas creatively, systematically, and effectively at the international level.

“At the competition, our team successfully earned two awards simultaneously: 1st Best Project Innovation and 1st Best Presentation,” said Mytha.

Furthermore, Mytha stated that the competition provided a valuable platform for learning, personal growth, and developing the confidence to present ideas capable of creating a meaningful impact on society. Through IYEN and IYIS, she sought to contribute her best efforts by presenting ideas aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while also demonstrating that Indonesian youth can play an active role in building a better future.

“Focus on the process, not just the results. I believe that success begins with thorough preparation, a willingness to keep learning, and the courage to share ideas that can create real benefits for society,” she concluded.