USU Public Relations – Students from Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) have once again brought pride to the university by securing First Place in a national poster competition with their poster titled EduGO.ID, which highlights the importance of equitable and high-quality education.

The winning team consisted of Riki Candra, a 2022 student from the Development Economics Study Program, and Silkyanida Fachriza Damanik, a 2024 student from the Law Study Program. Their achievement reflects USU students' commitment to developing creative and practical solutions to national challenges, particularly in the field of education. Through EduGO.ID, they proposed an innovation designed to support equal access to quality education in Indonesia while contributing to the nation's vision of Indonesia Emas 2045.

The EduGO.ID poster was developed based on the belief that Indonesia's future depends greatly on the quality of its education system. Rather than presenting only a conceptual idea, the proposed innovation seeks to address real societal needs while supporting government efforts to build a more equitable and high-quality education system.

The Director of Student Affairs and Alumni at Universitas Sumatera Utara, Prof. Dr. Agus Purwoko, S.Hut., M.Si., expressed his appreciation for the students' achievement. According to him, the accomplishment demonstrates that USU students are not only academically competitive but also possess creativity, innovative thinking, and a strong awareness of strategic issues affecting society.

"This achievement demonstrates that USU students are capable of developing creative, practical, and relevant ideas that address societal needs. We hope this accomplishment inspires other students to continue competing, developing innovative ideas, and making meaningful contributions through their work," he said.

Riki Candra explained that the project began by identifying various educational challenges faced by Indonesian society, analyzing their root causes, and designing practical and relevant solutions. Throughout the process, the team studied numerous references, including international best practices, before refining their concept, dividing responsibilities, and designing the poster.

"We chose the theme of equitable and quality education because we believe Indonesia's future is closely tied to the quality of its education. Through EduGO.ID, we aim to offer an innovation that can support both the government and society in preparing for Indonesia Emas 2045 through well-planned educational development," he explained.

He added that the greatest challenge was creating an innovation that not only aligned with the competition theme but was also supported by strong references and feasible for implementation. Managing time between discussions, developing the project, and fulfilling academic responsibilities also required careful planning.

"The biggest challenge was designing an innovative idea that matched the competition theme, was supported by strong references, and remained realistic to implement. At the same time, we had to balance discussions, project development, and our academic commitments," he said.

This is not Riki's first national achievement. In 2025, he also won First Place in a national poster competition. That experience provided valuable insights into competition strategies, idea development, and technical aspects of producing a more competitive poster.

"My experience in previous competitions helped me better understand how to develop ideas, align them with the competition theme, and prepare my work more effectively. It certainly helped me perform better in this year's competition," he said.

Riki also emphasized the important role played by the university environment in supporting his achievements. He credited the supportive and collaborative atmosphere among fellow students for creating opportunities to exchange ideas, build strong teams, and encourage one another throughout the competition process.

"The support from the university community has been invaluable because I have many friends who encourage one another and are always willing to collaborate in competitions. Through these experiences, I have also learned to recognize each team member's strengths and build better teamwork," he added.

The victory represents both a memorable milestone and a source of motivation to continue growing through academic competitions. Riki hopes that his achievement will inspire other students who are beginning their competitive journey to remain courageous, persistent, and willing to learn from every experience.

"Success in competitions doesn't happen overnight, and failure is often part of the process. However, those experiences help us learn, grow, and prepare for the future. Never become complacent with a single achievement—keep learning from your mistakes and maintain your curiosity so you can continue progressing in the world of competitions," he concluded.