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Tag: Indonesia

USU Identifies Gaps in Village Preparedness

Posted on by Anastasya Hasugian

Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) has identified gaps in disaster-awareness coverage within Sidoharjo I Pasar Miring’s 11 hamlets, highlighting the need for clearer youth volunteer roles, alternative emergency communication channels and age-appropriate preparedness materials.

The findings emerged from a focus group discussion held on 11 August 2026. The event brought together 36 participants, including representatives from the village government, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the Village Consultative Body (BPD), youth and women’s groups, volunteers, community representatives and USU academics.

Youth participation was a central part of the discussion. Reza Syahputra, head of the village youth organisation Karang Taruna, said young people had supported the village government during floods, strong winds and other emergencies.

“Our youth organisation has helped the village government respond directly when disasters occur,” Reza said.

He proposed community disaster drills to help young people, volunteers and residents understand their respective responsibilities before, during and after an emergency.

Participants also highlighted the importance of introducing disaster preparedness from an early age. Sri Wahyuni, a BPD member and kindergarten teacher, uses stories, songs and physical demonstrations to teach children how to protect their heads, avoid glass and move safely towards an assembly point.

Her experience highlighted the need for illustrated and age-appropriate materials that teachers and parents could use to introduce disaster preparedness to young children.

The discussion also examined how disaster information moves through the village. Residents generally receive warnings through WhatsApp groups, social media and direct communication from BPBD and hamlet heads. Information is usually verified in the field before being shared with the wider community.

However, participants found that disaster-awareness activities had not yet reached all 11 hamlets. They also identified the need for alternative communication channels when electricity or mobile networks are unavailable.

During the event, Onan Marakali Siregar, a Business Administration lecturer, facilitated a session on disaster governance covering local hazards, vulnerable groups, evacuation responsibilities, logistics and coordination. Yovita Sabarina Sitepu, a Communication Science lecturer, led a session on disaster risk communication.

Programme leader Februati Trimurni, a Public Administration lecturer, said community experience was essential to developing preparedness measures suited to local conditions.

“As academics, we understand the theories and concepts of disaster management. However, understanding conditions on the ground requires us to listen to how the community has responded to disasters,” she said.

The initiative forms part of USU’s Village Development Programme, supported by the university’s Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM). Coordinated by Muhammad Arifin Nasution, the programme is implemented by a multidisciplinary team from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) in collaboration with the village government.

The discussion identified four priorities for strengthening village preparedness: extending awareness activities to all hamlets, clarifying the responsibilities of youth volunteers, developing child-friendly educational materials and preparing alternative communication methods for network or electricity disruptions.

UiTM–UNAND: Learning Beyond Borders

Posted on by Aidil Ibrahim

Students from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Cawangan Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, and Universitas Andalas (UNAND), Indonesia, recently engaged in a meaningful cross-border academic collaboration centred on Food Microbiology. The initiative provided students with an opportunity to exchange knowledge, share academic perspectives, and learn from one another beyond the boundaries of their respective classrooms.

The knowledge exchange programme started with a hands-on workshop on practical food microbiology involving undergraduate students from the Faculty of Animal Husbandry, Universitas Andalas. The session was led by UiTM lecturers as invited speakers, while the UiTM laboratory personnel served as facilitators, guiding students through applied techniques in microbial handling, food safety testing, and laboratory workflow practices. The workshop emphasised not only technical skills, but also the importance of proper documentation, biosafety awareness, and quality assurance in microbiological analysis, which are competencies essential for future researchers and industry practitioners.

As part of the activity, students undertaking the Food Microbiology course at UiTM Cawangan Negeri Sembilan shared their knowledge and learning experiences with the participating students from UNAND. In return, the UNAND students contributed their own perspectives, experiences, and knowledge related to their field of study. This reciprocal approach transformed the session into an active learning environment where students were not merely recipients of information, but also contributors to the learning process.

The cross-border collaboration supported experiential and collaborative learning by encouraging students to communicate, discuss ideas, compare perspectives, and apply their academic knowledge in a practical context. Through interactions with peers from another country and academic discipline, students were also exposed to different approaches to food safety, microbiological issues, and related challenges within the food production chain.

Beyond academic knowledge, the activity fostered important transferable skills, including communication, teamwork, critical thinking, confidence, and intercultural awareness. Students were encouraged to consider how food-related challenges can be viewed from multiple perspectives and how knowledge from different disciplines can complement one another in addressing real-world issues.

The collaboration also provided an opportunity for students to develop a broader global outlook. By engaging directly with international peers, students gained greater awareness of similarities and differences in educational experiences, professional practices, and food safety concerns across countries.

Overall, the UiTM–UNAND cross-border learning activity demonstrates the value of international academic collaboration in enriching student learning. Such initiatives can complement conventional classroom teaching by creating authentic opportunities for knowledge construction, cultural exchange, and global engagement. The experience is expected to serve as a foundation for future cross-border educational activities that further strengthen student competencies and prepare graduates to participate confidently in an increasingly interconnected academic and professional environment.

Autoethnography Reveals Gender Negotiation

Posted on by Sri Alem Br. Sembiring

Four anthropologists from Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) told the 4th Annual Kartini Conference on Indonesian Feminisms (KCIF2026) that autoethnography reveal hidden, bargained and partial gender change in Acehnese, Karo, Chinese Indonesian and university setting with education as a recurring lever. In an Acehnese noble household, a husband who shares housework may lose honour. In a Chinese Indonesian family in Padang, a wife may be quietly barred from work. Such negotiation, hidden from public view, surface when researchers read their own lives as data. The presentations were part of the 4th Annual Kartini Conference on Indonesian Feminisms (KCIF2026), held online via Zoom from 6 to 13 September 2026. Held online via zoom from 6 to 13 September 2026 and organized by a consortium of LETSS Talk, Mitra Wacana and the ETNOGRAFIK Research Center at USU.

In, Aceh, Dra. Tjut Syahriani, M.Soc,Sc. found that noble couples often settle on egalitarian arrangements in private and hide them, since shared housework can cost a husband his honour. Reading this through R.W. Connell’s book Masculinities (1995), which describes a dominant ideal of manhood tied to earning and public leadership, she showed men concealing domestic work rather than rejecting it.

In Padang, such constraints have a history. Dr. Mariana Makmur, MA., traced how Dutch colonial schooling divided Chinese Indonesian families: those exposed to it favoured fairer inheritance and wider social participation, while others preserved patriarchal subordination. Across generations, control has shifted from women’s bodies and movement to subtler limits, such as spouses forbidding paid work.

Karo women in Medan, in turn, bargain with such constraints. Dra. Sabariah Bangun, M.Soc.Sc., drew on Deniz Kandiyoti’s essay “Bargaining with Patriarchy” (Gender & Society, 1988), which describes women accepting constraints while manoeuvring within them, to explain how urban Karo women balance customary obligations against careers. Education, employment and economic contribution widen their room to negotiate.

Bargaining falters, however, where intimacy itself is the danger. Dra. Nita Savitri, M.Hum., found in her classes on gender-based violence that perpetrators frequently come from survivors’ closest circles, consistent with National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) national annual data, leaving survivors torn between staying and leaving. She proposed trained peer educators and film-based teaching suited to Generation Z, while cautioning that patriarchal structures cannot be dismantled by academic intervention alone.

The panel “Autoethnography: Challenges and Opportunities for Women Educators in Promoting Gender-Just Relations,” was moderated by Dr. Sri Alem Br. Sembiring, Head of Social Anthropology at USU’s Faculty of Social and Political Sciences. Presenters followed Carolyn Ellis and Arthur Bochner’s chapter “Autoethnography, Personal Narrative, Reflexivity: Researcher as Subject” (2000, Handbook of Qualitative Research).

The four studies suggest a working proposition: education widens women’s room to bargain, but shifts the terms of negotiation more than the structure around it. Equality remains private in Aceh, control turns subtler in Padang, and academic intervention meets patriarchal limits in the classroom. Whether such private bargains lead to collective change, or settle into a stable accommodation, is what these first-person accounts cannot yet settle.

USU Students Reflect on Social Issues

Posted on by Stela Ingri Lorensia

The Organizing Committee of the New Member Admission Program (PPAB) of GMNI, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), held a student-focused book discussion on Laut Bercerita by Leila S. Chudori, engaging prospective members as participants. The activity served as an alternative learning platform, using literature to explore critical social issues.

The discussion centered on reflections on the 1998 humanitarian tragedy, particularly the enforced disappearances of activists, and examined its relevance to contemporary debates on the role of the state and democracy. Students actively connected the novel’s narrative with present-day social realities.

Through this initiative, participants were encouraged to strengthen critical thinking, cultivate empathy, and deepen their awareness of humanitarian values and democratic principles within both campus life and wider society.

UNAIR holds ceremony for KNB recipients

Posted on by Universitas Airlangga News

Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) officially graduated four international students under the Developing Countries Partnership (KNB) Scholarship . The ceremony was held on Friday (August 21, 2026) in the Amerta Room, Rectorate Building, MERR-C Campus. Among this year’s graduates were four international students: Luxshika Tharmarajah from Sri Lanka, Fernando Sico Elo from East Timor, Mojeeb Abdo Abdullah Qasem from Yemen, and Faisal Aftab from Pakistan.

In his remarks, UNAIR Rector Prof Dr Muhammad Madyan MFin praised the students for their hard work, dedication, and every effort they had put into completing their studies. He noted that the KNB program was more than an academic scholarship, it also served as a bridge for strengthening friendship, cooperation, and understanding between nations.

“During your time here, you not only gained knowledge, but also became part of the larger Universitas Airlangga family, while helping maintain strong relations between Indonesia and your home countries,” he said.

Prof Madyan added that he hoped the knowledge, experience, and networks the graduates had built during their studies at UNAIR would equip them to make a tangible impact, both in Indonesia and around the world. He also thanked the KNB program, the graduate school, and everyone who had supported the graduates throughout their academic journey. “Congratulations as you begin your service in your respective fields as part of your life’s journey, and take pride in being part of the UNAIR family,” he said.

Faisal Aftab, one of the graduates, described his time at UNAIR as comfortable and rewarding. Beyond his coursework, he said, the experience allowed him to learn a new language and culture while getting to know Indonesia more closely. “At first, it was difficult because of the differences in language and culture. But once I started studying, I came to love how amazing Indonesian culture is,” he explained.

Aftab said UNAIR had helped turn his dream into reality, offering facilities and opportunities he had never had access to before. “I’m truly grateful for the chance to learn from such outstanding professors. I’ve been here for three years, but it still feels like I arrived only yesterday. Given another opportunity, I would come back to Indonesia, this country has given me so much hope and knowledge,” he added.

UNODC Training for Addiction Counsellors

Posted on by ritonga_86

The Social Welfare Study Programme at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of North Sumatra (FISIP USU), in collaboration with the North Sumatra Association of Addiction Counsellors (IKAI Sumut), successfully organised the Treatnet Volume A Addiction Counsellor Training. This strategically important event took place over five days, from 10 to 14 August 2026, on the FISIP USU campus. The training featured National Trainers and internationally certified facilitators from the UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) and the Colombo Plan as the main speakers. Through this intensive, globally standardised training, participants were equipped with in-depth clinical competencies and skills in the management and counselling of addiction.

The Head of the Social Welfare Studies Programme at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, USU, Fajar Utama Ritonga, S.Sos, M.Kesos, expressed his appreciation to IKAI SUMUT and UNODC for organising the training; According to him, this collaboration is greatly needed by various parties, including social workers specialising in drug abuse who, together with addiction counsellors, strive to rehabilitate victims of drug abuse in social rehabilitation centres. The main issue identified by research conducted in the field of social rehabilitation for drug abuse is sectoral egoism between the institutions responsible for social rehabilitation for addiction – namely the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and the Ministry of Social Affairs – specifically the absence of social workers in the social rehabilitation centres run by the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) as its social rehabilitation service units. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Social Affairs has transferred all social workers specialising in drug abuse to social rehabilitation centres owned by the Ministry of Social Affairs or to Regional Technical Service Units. Sectoral ego must be eliminated, as social workers and addiction counsellors are like siblings in providing services within the field of social rehabilitation for drug abuse..

 

The event was also brought to a close by the Head of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) for North Sumatra Province, Brigadier General Tatar Nugroho, S.I.K., S.H., M.H., who is the principal official responsible for combating drug trafficking at the source in North Sumatra Province. The collaboration we have built so far must be strengthened in the future between the academic community of the Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) – through the Tri Dharma of Higher Education – the Social Rehabilitation Institute and the North Sumatra Provincial National Narcotics Agency, so that together we can reduce the prevalence of drug abuse in North Sumatra, which has consistently ranked first amongst Indonesian provinces with the highest prevalence of drug abuse.

UNAIR student learns robotic surgery in Italy

Posted on by Universitas Airlangga News

Medical student from Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), Rizal Rachbini Mahlevi, had the opportunity to deepen his knowledge of robotic surgical technology in the Department of Urology at Ospedale Borgo Trento, Verona, Italy. The activity took place from July 27–31, 2026, as part of the student outbound program under the KKN Penyetaraan program through the Università degli Studi di Verona. The activity focused on learning about robot-assisted nephrectomy using the Da Vinci Xi robotic system. Through the program, Mahlevi gained experience observing the application of minimally invasive surgery in urological procedures, including kidney transplantation.

Mahlevi explained that his interest in urology was one of the reasons he chose to deepen his knowledge of robotic surgical technology. He noted that minimally invasive approaches have the potential to support faster patient recovery. “As technology continues to advance, surgical procedures are increasingly moving toward safer and minimally invasive approaches. These approaches benefit both patients and doctors by reducing surgical trauma and accelerating the recovery process,” he explained.

During the activity, Mahlevi joined patient visits to observe assessments and postoperative patient management, while also learning about robot-assisted surgery in kidney transplantation. He also had the opportunity to study laparoscopic mapping, the robot-assisted nephrectomy procedure, and the use of indocyanine green to assess renal tissue perfusion after transplantation.

According to Mahlevi, one of the key differences he observed while studying urology in Italy was the broader use of robotic technology. This provided healthcare professionals with more opportunities to develop their competencies in modern surgical technology. He hopes access to modern surgical technology in Indonesia can continue to be developed so that its benefits can reach more patients.

“I hope that the field of minimally invasive surgery in Indonesia can be further developed, both through enhancing the competence of medical personnel and expanding access to modern surgical technology,” he stated. As a closing statement, Mahlevi encouraged students who wish to join similar programs not to limit their learning to established systems. “Keep your curiosity alive, be willing to ask questions, engage in discussions, and seek new experiences. Make the most of every opportunity to build connections and broaden your knowledge as much as possible,” he concluded.

Reviews Social Welfare Curriculum

Posted on by ritonga_86

Social Welfare study programme at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) to revise its Outcome-Based Education (OBE) curriculum, bringing together alumni, employers, students and lecturers to help shape the programme’s graduate profile.

The FGD was held on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at the FISIP USU leadership meeting room. It was opened by Vice Dean for Academic, Student and Alumni Affairs Dr. Agus Suiadi, S.Sos, M.Si, and moderated by lecturer Randa Putra Kasea Sinaga, S.Sos, M.Kesos, with guidance from Head of the Social Welfare study programme Fajar Utama Ritonga, S.Sos, M.Kesos, and programme secretary Mia Aulina Lubis, S.Sos, M.Kesos.

Representatives from several government and social service institutions took part, including the North Sumatra Provincial Social Service, the Medan City Social Service, the Class 1 Correctional Supervision Agency (BAPAS) Medan, the Ministry of Social Affairs’ Sentra Bahagia, two regional technical service units for child and youth welfare, and the NGO Lembaga Fokus.

The programme first adopted Indonesia’s KKNI curriculum framework in 2017 before switching to an Outcome-Based Education (OBE) model aligned with the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (Independent Learning Independent Campus) policy in 2021. This year’s revision responds to Indonesia’s Higher Education, Science and Technology Ministry Regulation No. 10 of 2026, which amends 2025 rules on higher education quality assurance and places greater emphasis on connecting classroom learning with industry and the workforce.

Input gathered through the FGD and a Google Form survey was used to define the programme’s Graduate Profile and Graduate Learning Outcomes, aligned with standards recommended by the Indonesian Association of Social Welfare and Social Work Education (APKPSI). The process produced four graduate profiles: addiction social worker, social welfare/social work service programme manager, development companion for vulnerable groups, and social welfare researcher.

The revised curriculum also incorporates the Sustainable Development Goals into semester learning plans for individual courses, supporting the government’s Key Performance Indicator 12 (IKU 12). Of the 17 SDGs, the programme is focusing on Goals 1 (No Poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), 4 (Quality Education) and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

FISIP USU said the curriculum update is intended to keep the Social Welfare programme responsive to changes in the education sector and the needs of the social work profession.

 

UNAIR students learn bird conservation

Posted on by Universitas Airlangga News

Twelve Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) students participating in the International Belajar Bersama Komunitas (BBK) Program in Kuala Terengganu gained hands-on experience in birdwatching and citizen science at the SPAK Research Station, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), on Tuesday (28/7/2026). The activity introduced a biodiversity conservation approach that involves active community participation in collecting scientific data.

One of the participants, Kamila Mahfudza A P from the Faculty of Public Health (FKM) UNAIR, said the activity provided a new perspective on the connection between environmental conservation and public health. She added that hands-on learning in the field helped students better understand the importance of protecting biodiversity. “This activity broadened our understanding that conservation is not limited to researchers. Communities can also contribute through simple observations that support scientific research while raising environmental awareness,” Mahfudza said.

The activity was led by Anuar McAfee, who explained birdwatching as an activity that supports scientific research and ecotourism development while also providing physical and mental health benefits. Participants were also introduced to the eBird platform, which allows the public to record bird observations and contribute to biodiversity databases. “Seeing various species firsthand in their natural habitats was a truly memorable experience. We learned that simple data collected by the community can make a significant contribution to conservation efforts,” Mahfudza added.

Through the activity, students not only gained knowledge about citizen science-based conservation but also learned the importance of collaboration between universities and communities in protecting biodiversity.

International BBK Program provides a platform for students to learn best practices that can be adapted in Indonesia, including the development of community-based conservation and ecotourism through simple and participatory scientific approaches. “We hope this experience can inspire the development of community-based conservation activities in Indonesia while strengthening international collaboration in education and environmental conservation,” Mahfudza concluded.

Students explore local wisdom

Posted on by Stela Ingri Lorensia

Students of the Anthropology Study Program at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), are engaging in an in-depth exploration of local wisdom through the course Local Genius and Traditional Wisdom. Amid the rapid currents of globalization and advanced technology, students are encouraged to understand how past societies developed life wisdom grounded in everyday experiences.

 

The course highlights that local wisdom is not merely a cultural inheritance, but also a guiding framework for living. It encompasses harmony with oneself, with others, with the environment, with the broader community, and even with the spiritual relationship to God. These values are considered highly relevant in addressing the complexities of modern life.

 

As part of the learning process, students examine a case study of the Batak tradition known as Dalihan Na Tolu. Through interactive classroom discussions, they explore a kinship system that has evolved over centuries within Batak society in North Sumatra. The concept emphasizes the importance of maintaining balance and harmony in social relationships.

 

Beyond theoretical understanding, students are also challenged to apply local wisdom in real-life contexts. Using a Problem-Based Learning approach, they are tasked with formulating positive practices derived from traditional values to respond to contemporary social issues.

This learning experience is expected to shape students who not only understand culture, but are also capable of adapting local values into innovative solutions for today’s challenges.