Universitas Sumatera Utara, Humbang Hasundutan Regency: Advancing disaster mitigation through collaborative initiatives

Humbang Hasundutan (Humbahas) Regency is one of the disaster-prone areas in North Sumatera. The area is prone to landslides, which are exacerbated by deforestation and prolonged rainfall. The Humbahas region has a high rainfall intensity with a poor surface drainage system. This triggers hydrometeorological disasters in the form of floods and landslides. From these disasters, the society felt great losses such as infrastructure damage in residential areas, damage to plantations, rice fields, and crop failure. As an anticipatory step and implementation of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education, Lembaga Pengabdian Pada Masyarakat Universitas Sumatera Utara (LPPM USU) organizes disaster mitigation and adaptation activities through the Society Service Program (PKM) thematic disaster mitigation and adaptation.

The program, launched on July 4th, 2024, at the Bukit Barisan Hall in Humbahas Regency, represents a crucial collaboration between Lembaga Pengabdian Pada Masyarakat (LPPM) USU and the Humbahas regional government. This initiative aims to equip the region with the tools and knowledge to effectively minimize the impact of disasters. Tua Marsatti Marbun as a representative of the Humbahas Regency government stated about this launch signifies a commitment to provide stakeholders involved in the disaster mitigation program with the necessary resources and infrastructur.

The program operates under two distinct schemes: the PKM Assisted Village Program and the PKM Regular Mono Year. The PKM Assisted Village Program takes a long-term approach, providing multi-year support to designated villages. Conversely, the PKM Regular Mono Year program focuses on short-term interventions. Dr. Oding Effendy, the implementing coordinator of the disaster mitigation thematic activities, elaborated that both programs will run for seven months each year, spanning a total of nine locations and encompassing a range of activities.

The program tackles disaster preparedness on multiple fronts. One key activity involves the formation of Disaster Resilient Villages (DESTANA) which empowers communities to manage potential threats, environmental conservation (tree planting), economic development (sustainable tourism), and public health improvement. Furthermore, a unique initiative involves designing disaster mitigation gymnastics for elementary school students, aiming to instill a culture of preparedness from a young age.

The program launch fostered a vibrant discussion with Ir. Yusak Maryunianta, M.P. (Chief Executive of PKM Assisted Village), Dra. Fatma Wardy Lubis, M.A. (Chief Executive of PKM Regular Mono Year), Benthon Juber Lumban Gaol, ST., M.Si. (Head of BPBD North Sumatera), and Manutur Parulian Naibaho, S.Sos., S.H., M.Si. (Head of Prevention and Preparedness). One crucial concern raised was the need to address the underlying economic factors that contribute to environmental destruction. Recognizing this, USU emphasizes a holistic approach, extending its support beyond disaster mitigation and adaptation to encompass local economic development initiatives. By empowering communities economically, the program aims to reduce the pressure on natural resources driven by poverty. Through this activity, it is hoped that the entire implementation team and also the stakeholders involved will be able to realize each planned program so that it is right on target according to the needs of the society in Humbang Hasundutan Regency.

FISIP USU, TULAR NALAR MAFINDO organise an Academy Digital Lansia (ADL) class to digitally empower the elderly

To assist the elderly to be empowered by the internet, Tular Nalar 3.0 Mafindo with support from Google.org in collaboration with FISIP USU held an ACADEMI DIGITAL LANSIA (ADL) held at the Catholic Church ST. Fransiskus Asisi, Pasar 6 Padang Bulan, Medan City. This Akademi Digital Lansia (ADL) is a digital literacy training activity aimed at the elderly so that they are empowered to use digital media (internet).

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reports that the life expectancy (UHH) of the Indonesian population will reach 73.93 years in 2023. Based on the 2023 Elderly Population Statistics published by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), as many as 49.56% of the elderly already use gadgets. However, only a fifth have access to and use the internet. Elderly people, including vulnerable groups, need to be well-informed so that they are not easily fooled by digital fraud and the spread of fake news which is currently on the rise, especially ahead of a large-scale disaster, namely the regional head elections to be held in November 2024.

This activity was opened by RP.David D. Barus OFMConv. as Pastor of the Catholic Church of ST. Fransiskus Asisi Padang Bulan. In his remarks, Pastor David expressed his support for implementing the Academi Digital Lansia which is also considered important now. He expressed his full support for implementing this Academi Digital Lansia which is also expected to be carried out repeatedly and reach more elderly people from a wider range of areas, especially in the ST. Fransiskus Asisi Padang Bulan.

Also giving a speech, Yovita Sabarina Sitepu S.Sos., M.Si., as PIC Tular Nalar FISIP USU explained the Academi Digital Lansia that will be implemented along with a brief explanation of the assistance that will be carried out online after this Academi Digital Lansia activity is carried out. “The elderly are one of the groups that are vulnerable to becoming victims of digital crime today, therefore this activity aims to help improve the digital literacy skills of the Indonesian people, especially among the elderly,” he explained.

On a separate occasion, Mafindo Tular Nalar 3.0 Program Manager, Santi Indra Astuti, gave a speech and explained that Tular Nalar, which has been present since 2020, aims to instill the habit of critical thinking among the public while facing the upcoming information flow. “Currently we are dealing with the swift flow of thoughts and the flow of information that is challenging during the election period, so that is our current challenge,” she said in the welcome video.

The Academi Digital Lansia is carried out using the microteaching method, where one facilitator assists 10 participants, namely the elderly. The elderly are invited to recognize the challenges of the elderly in the digital world with BERBUDI (Bersama Bugar Digital). They are also introduced to fraud prevention measures with the concept of WAKUNCAR [Waspadai (Beware), Kunjungi (Visit), Cari (Search)], where in this segment the elderly are invited to analyze news with the ABCD game or Amati, Baca, Cari, Diskusikan (Observe, Read, Check the Facts, and Discuss). In this segment, the elderly are given the opportunity to discuss and analyze the news previously provided by the facilitator.

In addition to playing to discuss and analyze the news, the elderly are also introduced to the chaos that is usually found in content circulating on social media, namely Kacau IDE (Kacau Isi, Kacau Diri, and Kacau Emosi). At the end of the segment, the elderly and all facilitators held a cellphone exercise guided by the companion. The series of events went smoothly and enthusiastically.

Yovita said that, based on their observations during the activity, participants enthusiastically shared stories about fraud that happened to their acquaintances and misinformation that they received during the last presidential election season. Even during the “senam ponsel”, the elderly were so enthusiastic that the exercise was repeated twice. “Next week, during the mentoring activity, hopefully the participants will be able to apply the Wakuncar technique when receiving suspicious information either from WhatsApp, Facebook, or SMS,” she explained.

In collaboration with Petronas, FST plants a thousand mangrove trees

The Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) has launched the International Community Service initiative titled “Mangrove for Sustainable Coastal Environment: 1000 Trees.” The event took place on Thursday, June 4, 2024, at the Mangrove Botanical Garden in Gunung Anyar, Surabaya. rnrnThis initiative is a collaborative effort involving various organizations, including Petronas, the UNAIR SDGs Center, and the Indonesia SDGs Center Network (ISCN). The FST team involved 12 inbound students from Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), FST ambassadors as liaison officers, and representatives from Airlangga Global Engagement (AGE). rnrnThe event was attended by Dr. Fatmawati, Vice Dean III of FST; Eva Dwi Komalasari, S.P., Head of UPTD KRM; Bayu Arie Fianto, Ph.D., President of the Indonesia SDGs Center; and Taufik Harwanto, a representative from Petronas. rnrnThe FST’s Enviro Fest program has been running for two years, beginning in 2023.

This year’s activities continued the tradition of planting 1000 mangrove seedlings. rnrn“Since last year, we’ve used the same location and program, planting mangrove seedlings at the Mangrove Botanical Garden in Gunung Anyar. Last year, we collaborated with international students from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) and different partners,” explained Dimas, the program’s coordinator. rnrnDr. Fatmawati, Vice Dean III of FST UNAIR, explained that Enviro Fest aims to preserve the resilience of the mangrove ecosystem, ensuring the environment remains protected and sustainable. rnrn“This initiative is an effort to maintain the ecosystem’s resilience, keeping it fresh and safe. We hope that the human resources involved will contribute to the sustainability of this location.

This activity is a form of commitment to maintaining the mangrove environment,” she explained. rnrnIn conclusion, Dr. Fatmawati hopes that planting a thousand trees would bring great benefits and provide valuable experiences for participants. “I hope you all enjoy this experience and gain professional experience, ensuring the tasks are carried out to their fullest potential,” she concluded.

ITS initiates extension of FICEM consortium, expanding academic networks between leading universities in France, Indonesia

Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), one of the ten Indonesian universities in the FICEM Consortium (French Indonesian Consortium in Engineering and Management), led the effort to extend this esteemed partnership on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. The consortium extension meeting was hosted hybrid. The institution took a significant step in strengthening academic ties between France and Indonesia.

Formed on March 9, 2015, in Medan, the FICEM Consortium includes nine renowned engineering and management schools from Institut Mines-Télécom (IMT) and ten top universities in Indonesia. As the original agreement neared its end, ITS initiated the renewal of this valuable partnership.

The renewal underscores the successful collaborations among consortium members in student mobility, research projects, and the exchange of PhD students, lecturers, and researchers. These efforts have significantly strengthened academic, research, and business links between Indonesia and France. Between 2022 and 2023, the consortium produced over 25 alumni and supported numerous research projects and joint conferences, including the Maritime Continent Fulcrum International Conference (MaCiFIC) 2022 and the International Conference on Sustainable Engineering Development and Technological Innovation (ICSEDTI) 2023.

In recognition of the consortium’s achievements, ITS proposed several vital initiatives to renew the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Firstly, it aims to explore funding opportunities to support mobility and research programs within the network. Moreover, it also inducts more possibilities to diversify the range of programs that can be implemented. ITS suggested extending the MoU for another seven years, from 2024 to 2030.

By renewing the FICEM Consortium, ITS reaffirmed the enhancement of fruitful academic and research collaborations between leading universities in France and Indonesia.

UNAIR FIKKIA, CMU Philippines conduct On the Job Training programme

The Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Natural Sciences (FIKKIA) Banyuwangi has successfully held the “On the Job Training (OJT) at FIKKIA Universitas Airlangga.” This program is the initial result of a collaboration between the College of Veterinary Medicine, Central Mindanao University (CMU) and the Veterinary Medicine Study Program at FIKKIA. Conducted from April 22 to May 10, 2024, the program provided CMU students with the opportunity to engage in various practical activities designed to expand their knowledge and skills in the field of veterinary medicine.

CMU students involved in these activities were Bernard Vincent Diaz Calo, Kyla Gabas, Hannah Portia Luberas, Jeila Golosino, Leralyn Gonzales, and Lourdes Faye Cablay. They are students in the internship phase in Veterinary Medicine in the Philippines. The On the Job Training (OJT) activities included microbiological analysis, molecular diagnostics, animal product processing, veterinary health examinations, and parasitology examinations on wild animals. Furthermore, they studied reproductive diagnostics, artificial insemination, conservation in Baluran National Park, and a computer-based final exam (CBT).

Bernard Vincent Diaz Carlo admitted that he gained a lot of new knowledge and experience at FIKKIA. He also enjoyed the opportunity to visit several tourist attractions in Banyuwangi, making the experience both educational and enjoyable. Meanwhile, Lourdes Faye Cablay reported that on May 17, 2024, they presented a narrative report of activities during the OJT to Jose M Obedencio Jr as Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Central Mindanao University. “Dr. Jose was very enthusiastic to hear about our experiences. Thank you to the lecturers and students of FIKKIA. We are very grateful for this experience,” she said.

With the end of the OJT program, FIKKIA UNAIR and CMU have successfully built a strong foundation for collaboration in Veterinary Medicine. This program\’s success not only enriched the students’ knowledge and skills but also strengthened the academic collaboration between the two institutions. Dr Aditya Yudhana hoped that this collaboration could continue and develop. It can, in particular, benefit students and the veterinary world, both in Indonesia and the Philippines.

FISIP USU communication students hold digital media literacy socialisation in schools to overcome low literacy levels in Indonesia

The widespread use of social media is unavoidable in today’s digital era. The young generation are the ones who will determine the future of Indonesia’s media literacy. Based on a survey conducted by the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) released by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2019, Indonesia ranked 62nd out of 70 countries, or the bottom 10 countries with low literacy levels.

Although the literacy rate in Indonesia is still relatively low, Indonesians actively use the internet, especially in terms of online shopping and social media usage. Data shows that everyone has at least one mobile device with a fairly high percentage of social media users, which is 60% of the total population.

Due to this particular issue, the Communication Science student groups of Fakultas Ilmu Sosial dan Ilmu Politik (FISIP) of Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) held socializations at SMK Perguruan Nasional Brigjend Katamso 1 and SMAS Prayatna Medan that involved a total of 81 students. These activities were held on May 15 and 22, 2024 with two themes: “Recognizing ‘Infinite Scroll’ Addiction in Teenagers” and “How Ads and Clicks Shape the Internet and Deconstruction Media Message”.

The purpose of these socializations are to raise students’ awareness about the importance of literacy in the digital era, provide knowledge about the dangers of excessive use of smartphones and social media, and teach them how to limit and moderate their time on social media.

In addition, these socialization s also aim to provide a basic understanding of how to be wise in media literacy, identify good and bad advertisements and clicks, to understand the deconstruction of digital media in the digital era.

In this socialization, the college students educated the students in each school about life in a digital world filled with information and communication technology that continues to grow, facilitating human work, especially with the existence of smartphones that are being used every day and had become an inseparable aspect in our lives.

However, on a smartphone, there are many dangers that might go unnoticed. One of them is the bad habit of surfing in social media until you lose track of time. One can feel too comfortable on social media because of infinite scrolling, a feature where the social media continues to display content without limit or end. This leads to the “inability to stop scrolling on social media” as the algorithm displays content that matches the user’s interests.

Through this socialization, the college students hope that the students that they taught can apply the fundamental aspects of media literacy, such as how to moderate the use of smartphones, be aware of why we can’t stop scrolling, be aware of the harmful effects that are caused by social media, be able to differentiate good and bad clicks, understand the deconstruction of media messages, act wisely and critically in the use of digital media, and help educate family, friends, and the surrounding environment who have not been exposed to this knowledge.

ITS Hosts First-Ever Indoor Handball Tournament for ASEAN University Games

ITS proudly hosted the 21st ASEAN University Games (AUG), specifically the indoor handball competition, from 26 – 30 June 2024 at ITS’ Pertamina Sports Hall. The event was participated by students from ASEAN countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. This year marks the debut of handball in the AUG, making ITS’ role as host especially significant in introducing the sport to the annual ASEAN university students’ sports competitions.

At the Welcome Party on 26 June 2024, ITS’ Rector, Dr. Bambang Pramujati emphasized that the four-day tournament at the ITS campus goes beyond mere competition; it is an opportunity to build friendships, promote cultural exchange, and foster unity among universities in the ASEAN region. He encouraged participants to explore Surabaya and visit tourist-attractions like Mount Bromo. Additionally, Dr. Bambang highlighted ITS dedication to effectively organizing the tournament, including renovating the Pertamina Sports Hall to meet international standards, demonstrating ITS’ commitment to representing Surabaya and Indonesia.

Lastly, Dr. Bambang expressed his hope that hosting the event will spur the growth of handball at ITS, potentially igniting student interest in the sport. He envisions handball becoming one of the Student Activity Units (UKM) at ITS, with the aspiration of eventually producing outstanding handball student-athletes who can join ABTI. Dr. Bambang views this opportunity as a significant step toward promoting handball and enriching the sporting culture at ITS.

ITS’ Sapuangin sweeps first place in regional championship, three awards at Shell eco-marathon Asia-Pacific and Middle East 2024

The Sapuangin team from Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) achieved multiple accomplishments during the energy-efficiency student competition, Shell Eco-marathon Asia-Pacific and the Middle East 2024. This year, the annual competition was held at the Mandalika International Circuit, Lombok, from July 2-6, 2024. There were three major categories and 13 sub-categories being contested, and the team successfully secured four wins with their XI Evo 3 car. The wins were: (1) 1st Place in the Regional Championship; (2) 1st Place in the Urban Concept Internal Combustion Engine on-track sub-category; (3) 2nd Place in the Data and Telemetry Award, supported by Schmid Elektronik off-track sub-category; and (4) 2nd Place in the Safety Award off-track sub-category.

To qualify for the regional championship, the team had to defeat other opponents during the on-track race. Sapuangin’s XI Evo 3 won by outperforming the other six teams. The exceptional performance of the XI Evo 3 surpassed their achievement from last year, improving from 422.9 kilometers per liter to 481.9 kilometers per liter this year. The regional championship is highly competitive, as its format gives teams a small amount of energy based on their results. They have to match the proven energy efficiency of their car with strategy, skill, and speed in a race to cross the finish line first without running out of energy. For their immaculate achievement, Sapuangin will be invited to visit the Ducati Motorcycle factory in Thailand, where they will get a first-hand view behind the scenes of making these bikes and learn from professionals how innovation and motorsport go hand-in-hand.

Rayhan Naufal Hafizh, the General Manager of Sapuangin, highlighted their success to the speed and durability of Sapuangin’s XI Evo 3. “This year, we made several improvements to the transmission and vehicle body. We replaced several vehicle parts from metal with carbon fiber to reduce vehicle weight. We also created a telemetry system to monitor the condition and progress of our vehicles.”

The improved performance of XI Evo 3 also contributed to the second time winning of Sapuangin in the Urban Concept ICE sub-category. Looking ahead, Rayhan expressed the team\’s commitment to sustain their innovation efforts and defending their championship status in future competitions, including Shell Eco-marathon Asia Pacific and Middle East 2025 in Qatar.

Creative transformation of Ndeskati Village PKK with PKM-PM team: Utilising coffee husk waste into heritage colours for Batik Aksara Karo

Community Service Program (PKM-PM) Eco-empowered by Universitas Sumatera Utara and the Ndeskati Village PKK Partners Conduct Innovative Activities to Transform Coffee Husk Waste into Natural Dyes for Batik Aksara Karo. This activity was conducted in stages over three months, involving various elements of the village community and highlighting the vital role of women in cultural preservation and environmental management.

The program began with extracting natural dyes from coffee husk waste. The participants, primarily women organization (PKK) members, were enthusiastic about learning each step, from collection and drying to color extraction. “This is the first time we have seen coffee husk waste turned into something valuable. The process is interesting, and the results are very satisfying,” said May, one of the training participants

Once the natural dye was ready, the training continued with a session on making Karo Script Batik. The participants were directly introduced to the history and meaning of Karo Script, guided by one of the PKM team members, Muslih Arridho, to introduce and revive the nearly faded Karo cultural heritage.

The women of the Ndeskati Village PKK were taught to apply Karo Script to create beautiful words written on batik using pencils and design paper. The wax painting process became the peak of creativity, where the partners carefully carved Karo Script motifs on the batik cloth to honor and represent Karo’s cultural heritage.

The most anticipated moment was the dyeing process. The batik fabrics were dipped into the natural dye extracted from coffee husk waste, resulting in a unique and environmentally friendly light brown color. This process was completed with fixation and drying to ensure the resulting batik was high-quality and durable. “We are very proud of the results. This batik is beautiful and has high environmental and cultural value,” said Wadaria, the head of the participant team.

This program produced high-quality batik products and empowered the village community, especially housewives. They now have new skills to increase family income and strengthen the local economy. “We hope to pass these skills on to other communities, making Ndeskati Village a training center for Karo Script batik,” added Wadaria.

The sustainability of this program is supported by the establishment of the “Batik Aksara Karo” cooperative, which will independently manage the production and distribution of batik. This cooperative will also serve as a training center for other communities to ensure the continued development of this knowledge and skill. With firm commitment from the entire community and ongoing support from PKM-PM, Ndeskati Village is ready to become a model of a sustainable creative economy.

Ndeskati Village will shine as an inspiring example where tradition and innovation go hand in hand, bringing broad positive impacts on the environment and culture. This program has opened new opportunities, reduced waste, strengthened cultural identity, and created a greener and more empowered future for the entire village community.

Green Gala: Embodying Gen-Z’s concern for environmental conservation through eco living, waste recycling

In several past decades, climate change and environmental degradation have become pressing global issues. The increasing population growth rate, along with the increasing human activities in the environment. This has become a major factor in the pollution and exploitation of natural resources.

According to data released by the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry, by 2023, there will be 19.56 million tons of waste per year, 27.56% of which will be untreated. The data shows how sad the waste produced by humans every day is, some of which cannot be processed properly.

During this challenge, the concept of Eco-Living or an environmentally friendly and sustainable lifestyle has emerged as a promising solution to reduce the negative impact of human activities on the earth. Not just a trend, this concept is a philosophy of life that promotes environmentally friendly practices, such as recycling and the use of environmentally friendly products.

Based on this phenomenon and in commemoration of World Environment Day, Merakee Organizer, an event organizer from Communication Science Study Program, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), led by Farhan Alvadin Lubis as project manager along with its members, namely Anna Fauziah Pane, Quisha Rahma Chandra, Sandrina Humaira, Azzahra Dwi Prananda, Niza Ervia Seftiawati, Salsabila Iriska Kusnin and Nur Jamiah Nasution, created an event that raised environmental issues and sustainable lifestyles entitled Green Gala as a form of their concern for environmental conservation. The event was held on Saturday, June 8th, 2024 at the Park of Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU).

Green Gala event aims to increase public awareness and participation in environmental conservation. Green Gala by Merakee Organizer is also part of the social project of the Event Organizer course in Communication Science Study Program, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU).

Green Gala has a series of interactive activities, began with a morning exercise led by Syah Hendra Mahadi, then continued with a clean-up session around the campus. After a short break, we present a talk show session under the theme Eco-Living: Way to Brighter Future by presenting spectacular speakers who are very concerned on environmental issues, namely Dr. Mayang Sari Yeanny, S.Si., M.Si, an academic from the Biology Study Program, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences Park, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), and Adelia Acasia Bangun, the Main North Sumatra Ambassador of Puteri Lingkungan 2023.

The participants were also invited to take part in a plastic waste recycling workshop by making ecobricks. Ecobricks themselves are made from plastic bottles containing plastic waste. Ecobricks can be used as an alternative to brick products to build buildings and household furniture.

“We know that plastic waste is a major problem in Indonesia, especially in Medan City. Through this activity, we hope people are able to sort and utilize plastic waste wisely. This activity is expected for all young generation to love and protect the environment more, starting by stop littering,” said Farhan Alvadin Lubis, Project Manager of Merakee Organizer.

The Green Gala event was also fully supported by the Directorate of Student Achievement and Alumni Affairs of Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) and successfully collaborated with Communication Science Student Association (IMAJINASI) Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) and attracted participants and communities from all over Medan, not only from USU but from other universities and the ones who care about environmental conservation issues.