05 December 2025
Rahmad Eko Febrianto
The appreciation was delivered directly by Vice Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Stella Christie, during her visit to the USU Peduli Post at the former Bank Sumut Building, Gate III USU, on Thursday, 4 December 2025. She was welcomed by USU Rector Prof. Muryanto Amin, S.Sos., M.Si., and took time to talk with students who have been personally affected by the disaster. In the discussion, she underlined how crucial it is for universities to be physically present among communities when disasters strike, not only as academic institutions but as active agents of relief.
A Fifty Billion Rupiah Commitment for Campus‑Led Emergency Response
During the visit, Vice Minister Stella announced that Kemendiktisaintek has allocated 50 billion rupiah to support emergency response initiatives led by universities in Sumatra. The funding is intended for the academic community as they assist disaster victims, particularly those impacted by floods and landslides. She described this as a concrete expression of the ministry’s vision of “impactful campuses”, where universities contribute directly to public welfare in times of crisis.
The scheme is open to all universities in Sumatra whose communities and surrounding areas have been affected by the disaster. Each approved emergency response proposal can receive up to 500 million rupiah in support from Kemendiktisaintek. Stella expressed hope that campuses would submit proposals that are focused, collaborative and responsive to real needs on the ground.
She also outlined eight priority areas that the ministry expects to be covered in these proposals. The funding may support logistics distribution, health and nutrition services, psychosocial assistance, rehabilitation, environmental sanitation and clean water, emergency education, economic recovery, as well as public administration support and disaster mitigation and education. These areas, she noted, form a comprehensive framework that links immediate relief with longer term recovery.
Encouraging a Culture of Solidarity in the Academic Community
Stella used her visit to call on universities and academic communities across Sumatra to give greater attention to their fellow citizens affected by floods and landslides. She stressed that Kemendiktisaintek is working hard to mobilise resources and that collaboration with campuses will significantly amplify the impact of government assistance.
She conveyed her sympathy to all disaster victims and shared her hope that they would remain resilient in the face of loss and uncertainty. According to her, the joint efforts of government, universities and civil society can turn compassion into tangible support on the ground.
USU Peduli: From Campus Initiative to Regional Lifeline
Rector Prof. Muryanto Amin expressed deep gratitude for the ministry’s trust and support. He reported that USU Peduli teams have already delivered assistance to several affected areas, including Binjai, Langkat, Sibolga and Tapanuli Tengah. In these locations, lecturers from the Faculty of Nursing and the Faculty of Medicine are providing health services to residents who have lost homes, access to clinics or both.
Support from the student community has also been strong. USU students organised through KOMPAS USU and the USU Scout movement continue to assist in and around Medan, helping with logistics, crowd management and community outreach. At the same time, USU has compiled official data on flood victims within its own academic community, including students, teaching staff and lecturers who have been affected. Assistance has started to reach these internal victims as part of a comprehensive response that cares for both the wider public and the university family.
Building a Model of Impactful Higher Education
The collaboration between Kemendiktisaintek and USU Pedili has begun to illustrate what an “impactful campus” can look like in practice. On one side, the ministry provides policy backing and substantial financial space through the 50 billion rupiah fund. On the other, USU translates that support into concrete actions in the field, from medical services and logistics distribution to psychosocial support and internal victim assistance.
As flood‑affected areas across North Sumatra move from emergency response toward recovery, the partnership between government and universities is expected to play a crucial role. Through USU Peduli and similar initiatives, the academic community is showing that knowledge, empathy and organised action can combine to create meaningful change for people living through disaster.
Tags: SDG 3, Good Health and Well-being, SDG 11, Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 13, Climate Action, SDG 17, Partnerships for the goals
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