Tag: University of North Sumatra

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.

MEDAN – The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) at University of North Sumatra (USU) brought a different experience to its New Student Campus Life Orientation Program (PKKMB) through a collaboration with Garuda TV.

Carrying the theme “Indonesia Punya Kamu, Connecting Generations,” the event was held at Smart Classroom A1.3, FISIP USU, on Friday (14/8/2026). One of the highlights was the Anchor Hunt program, which gave students the opportunity to explore the broadcasting industry and experience firsthand what it takes to become a professional news anchor.

The event brought together Garuda TV Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Fahmi M. Anwari, B.Eng., MBA, Head of the Master’s and Doctoral Programs in Communication Studies at FISIP USU Prof. Dr. Iskandar Zulkarnain, M.Si., as well as communication academic and practitioner Yuliandre Darwis, S.I.Kom., M.Mass.Comm., Ph.D.

Fahmi M. Anwari said the collaboration with the university was aimed at introducing students to the media industry through direct experience.

“Students have enormous potential to become part of the media ecosystem. Through this collaboration, we want to give them an opportunity to experience the broadcasting world firsthand and understand how information is packaged and delivered to the public,” Fahmi said.

He emphasized that becoming a news anchor involves more than simply speaking in front of a camera.

“Being an anchor is not merely about speaking in front of a camera. It requires communication skills, strong knowledge of the information being delivered, confidence, and responsibility for every message conveyed to the public,” he said.

Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Iskandar Zulkarnain viewed the collaboration between FISIP USU and Garuda TV as an opportunity to bridge academic knowledge and professional practice.

“Students need experiences that connect what they learn in the classroom with realities in the field. The involvement of media practitioners provides a different perspective and makes the learning process more contextual,” Iskandar said.

He added that the partnership could be expanded beyond the PKKMB program.

“We see this collaboration as the beginning of a broader synergy. In the future, it can be developed not only through student activities, but also through research, academic discussions, and other programs that connect the needs of universities with developments in the media industry,” he said.

Communication academic and practitioner Yuliandre Darwis said the hands-on experience provided through the Anchor Hunt program could help students understand the importance of effective communication when delivering information to the public.

“A news anchor must be able to understand the information, recognize the audience, and deliver messages in a way that is clear and easy to understand. These skills cannot be fully developed through theory alone. They require direct practice and experience,” Yuliandre said.

The former Chairman of the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) Central for the 2016–2019 period also highlighted the growing opportunities for young people to participate in the media industry.

“Today’s young generation is not only a consumer of information but also has the opportunity to become an information producer. Therefore, journalism skills, communication abilities, and media literacy are increasingly important,” he said.

Through Anchor Hunt, students were also introduced to the opportunity to become part of Garuda TV’s Citizen Journalist program. The initiative provides students with opportunities to contribute information from their surrounding communities while developing practical journalism skills.

The collaboration also opens opportunities for Master’s and Doctoral students in Communication Studies at FISIP USU to participate in future academic and research collaborations with Garuda TV.

Iskandar said the involvement of postgraduate students could become part of a more substantive partnership between academia and the media industry.

“Master’s and Doctoral students have the capacity to develop deeper academic studies. Therefore, we are open to developing research collaborations and other activities that can provide value for both institutions,” he said.

Yuliandre added that bringing academics, students, and media practitioners together could create a valuable exchange of knowledge and experience.

“The media industry needs academic perspectives, while academics and students also need insights and experiences from the industry. Bringing these two sides together can create more relevant and sustainable collaborations,” he said.

The collaboration between FISIP USU and Garuda TV through the PKKMB program therefore went beyond a conventional campus orientation activity. It provided students with an opportunity to interact directly with media practitioners, experience the role of a news anchor, understand the media production process, and explore opportunities to contribute as citizen journalists.

Through the spirit of “Indonesia Punya Kamu, Connecting Generations,” the program emphasized that young people have an important role to play in shaping the future of communication and media, whether through professional careers, academic research, or producing meaningful information for society.

The Department of Social Anthropology of the University of North Sumatra (USU) held the Anthropology Cultural Festival 2025 on Wednesday, 19 November 2025. This annual cultural event carried the theme “The Vibrancy of Chinese Ethnic Culture in Medan City,” highlighting the historical and cultural presence of the Chinese ethnic community in Indonesia. As one of the ethnic groups with a long history of interaction across Asia, the Chinese community in Medan has been closely intertwined with the city’s social dynamics for centuries.

 

To enrich the festival, the 2025 program featured a seminar discussing the role and contributions of the Chinese ethnic community in the development of Medan. The event was attended by representatives from the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Medan, Bobby Christian Halim from Mitsu, as well as lecturers and students from the Social Anthropology Program at USU.

Overall, the Anthropology Cultural Festival aims to foster mutual understanding, strengthen a sense of brotherhood, and promote tolerance within the diverse society of Medan.

The International Development Cooperation Fund Institution (LDKPI), or Indonesian Agency for International Development (Indonesian AID), together with the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at the University of North Sumatra (FISIP USU), held a talk show titled “Indonesian AID: Strengthening Economy, Deepening Diplomacy” on Tuesday, 2 September 2025. Conducted online via Zoom and streamed live through USU Media on YouTube, the event aimed to open public and academic dialogue about Indonesia’s role as an international grant donor. In the opening remarks, the Dean of FISIP USU, Dr. Hatta Ridho, said that students need to assess whether Indonesia is currently “worthy” of giving international grants not only in terms of budget but also in terms of impact, transparency, and swift diplomatic action. He called for grant policies to be more than diplomatic optics, insisting they deliver real benefits on the ground. 

Azhar Basyir, Head of the Legal and Institutional Relations Division at Indonesian AID, demonstrated that Indonesia’s roots in humanitarian diplomacy stretch back well before formal institutions were established: “In 1946, one year after independence, Indonesia already sent 300,000 tons of rice to India… But those aid efforts were sporadic and unorganized. Therefore, in 2019 Indonesian Aid was established to be more integrated and more strategic.” He also pointed out that aid is not always financial; material support and physical activities are included, such as vaccines and locally-produced biscuits, school renovations, and leadership training in the Pacific and Africa. Additionally: “It is important to note that these grants do not burden the annual state budget. Grants are given from the returns of the endowment fund investments that we manage.”

Prof. Drs. Heri Kusmanto, Secretary of the S3 Development Studies Program at FISIP USU, emphasized that foreign aid should not be mere charity but a political and economic instrument that also benefits Indonesia. He warned that lengthy bureaucratic processes can delay aid and reduce its effectiveness: “The main challenge is the lengthy bureaucracy, for example needing the approval of four ministers. As a result, aid can be delayed and lose its effectiveness. Therefore, mechanisms must be simplified.”

Public data supports that Indonesian AID has made significant achievements since its establishment. As of September 2024, Indonesian AID has distributed grants worth IDR 523.56 billion to 97 countries and foreign institutions through various grant programs, ranging from health, humanitarian, to training. Moreover, Prof. Heri reminded that academic evaluation is absolutely necessary so that the benefits of grants can be measured with precision, targeted correctly, and have meaningful impact for both recipients and Indonesia as the donor. This view responds to Azhar’s statement that humanitarian diplomacy yields mutual benefits, such as Indonesia’s shipment of oxygen concentrators to India during the COVID-19 pandemic and India’s response to Indonesia during the Delta wave. 

The talk show discussion also raised the issue of administrative mechanisms as a determining factor in the speed of international response. Students actively participated in the question and answer session, asking how the evaluation system works, how aid is implemented so that it is not delayed due to approvals from various parties, and how academics or researchers are involved in evaluating the impact of grants. Indonesia does have the capacity and intention to become an international donor, not only as a symbol of diplomacy but with tangible evidence. However, in order for Indonesia to be truly worthy in all aspects, focus needs to be directed towards effectiveness, transparency, and simplification of bureaucracy so that international momentum is not missed.

As a form of appreciation for active participation from students, the event concluded with the presentation of souvenirs to those involved in discussions and direct dialogues. The souvenirs symbolized that the input from the younger generation is valued and regarded as important by the organizers.