Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) won First Place in the Best Group Presentation category at the Student Innovation Project Competition during the Nationwide University Network in Indonesia (NUNI) Student Camp 2026. This achievement resulted from USU students' participation in a program that brought together students from various universities to identify community problems and design innovative solutions relevant to needs on the ground.

NUNI Student Camp 2026 was attended by representatives from 18 universities. The event carried the theme “Driving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Shaping Sustainable Urban Village, Healthy Living, and Green Innovation for Resilient Communities”.

Held from October 10–13, 2026, the event was part of the NUNI Presidential Forum, Annual Meeting, and Student Camp 2026 series, which took place at Universitas Surabaya (Ubaya), Petra Christian University on October 14, 2026, and the Ubaya Training Center (UTC), Trawas, Mojokerto, East Java. During the program, students from various universities worked in groups to observe problems in village environments, develop ideas for addressing them, and present their findings before a panel of judges and representatives of the leadership of NUNI member universities.

CocoShield, a Flood Mitigation Concept Based on Local Potential

The Student Innovation Project Competition at NUNI Student Camp 2026 not only tested participants' ability to develop ideas but also encouraged them to understand problems based on conditions observed in the field. Students were divided into cross-university working groups to observe various challenges in villages surrounding UTC Trawas and then formulate alternative solutions based on their respective fields of knowledge.

The ideas developed were guided by Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) indicators, covering issues such as disaster mitigation, environmental sustainability, social concerns, and the impact of technological developments on rural communities. At the forum, the group representing USU won First Place in the Best Group Presentation category with its project entitled “CocoShield: Coconut Coir-Based Embankment Protection and Community Participation for Flood Risk Mitigation in Aceh Tamiang Regency.”

This approach provided students with an opportunity to recognize that community problems are often interconnected and require diverse perspectives. The prototype was developed through several stages, beginning with the collection and drying of coconut coir, fiber separation, fiber treatment, spinning, and weaving into a net. The material was then rolled into a prototype that could be further developed. The concept seeks to utilize local resources while offering an alternative material that is more environmentally friendly.

CocoShield focuses on more than just the material itself. The team also proposed a program called Regu Jaga Tanggul (Embankment Watch Team), which involves community members in the regular inspection, installation, and maintenance of embankments. Through this involvement, communities are positioned as active participants in mitigation efforts rather than merely as beneficiaries once a solution has been implemented.

The team also included a Social Return on Investment (SROI) calculation, an approach used to estimate the value of social benefits relative to the investment made. Based on the preliminary calculations in their proposal, the SROI value was estimated at 131.24. Under the assumptions used, every IDR 1 invested could potentially generate approximately IDR 131.24 in social benefits. This figure remains an initial estimate and requires validation using loss data and more accurate testing.

“I hope this idea will not remain merely a presentation in a competition but can be further developed through research, testing, and collaboration with various stakeholders so that its benefits can truly be experienced by the community,” said Siti. She hopes that CocoShield will receive attention and be studied further by the government and parties focused on disaster management, particularly in Aceh Tamiang.

Student Collaboration and Cross-University Learning

Siti Maryani Saragih, Vice Chairperson of the USU Student Executive Board (BEM), participated in the program with direct support from USU Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Alumni Affairs, Prof. Dr. Poppy Anjelisa Zaitun Hasibuan, S.Si., M.Si., Apt. This support formed part of the university's efforts to encourage students to develop ideas, collaborate across disciplines, and present solutions to real-world community problems.

“Competitions like this give students the opportunity to learn by observing problems firsthand, exchanging perspectives with students from other universities, and developing solutions based on their knowledge,” said Prof. Poppy.

Participation in cross-university activities also provides an opportunity to broaden perspectives. Differences in academic backgrounds and participants' experiences allow problems to be examined from multiple angles, ensuring that the resulting ideas are not limited to a single approach.

For Siti, participating in NUNI Student Camp also provided an opportunity to examine regional issues within a broader forum and exchange perspectives with students from other universities.

“I learned that students have the opportunity to bring issues from their regions to a broader platform and develop them into ideas that can be discussed collectively,” she said.

The group members were as follows:

1. Siti Maryani Saragi (Universitas Sumatera Utara)
2. Vincent Lin (Universitas Katolik Indonesia Atma Jaya)
3. Farid Iqbal Hidayat (Ubaya Polytechnic)
4. Kenneth Nathanael Timothy Punuh (Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana)
5. Aileen Clarissa Prasetia (Petra Christian University, Surabaya)
6. Velencia Hiu (Universitas Sanata Dharma)
7. Laura Marcella Pratama (Universitas Bina Nusantara)