08 December 2024
Fenny Julistine Tarigan
MEDAN, North Sumatra – December 18, 2024 – Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) has closed out 2024 by reporting a monumental expansion of its commitment to public good, successfully reaching over 85,000 citizens across 14 districts. Through a massive, coordinated effort involving 429 comprehensive outreach programs, the university has solidified its role not just as a center for academic study, but as a dynamic engine for regional community development.
The sheer scale of the operation was driven by the Institute for Community Service, which sought to break down institutional walls and directly translate USU's academic capital into tangible, on-the-ground benefits. To achieve this, the university mobilized an impressive network of 5,000 students and 700 lecturers, with 312 programs strategically conducted off-campus, reaching into the heart of urban, rural, and coastal communities.
A flagship initiative centered on bolstering foundational learning in local schools through the Thematic Community Service Programme. A total of 2,300 USU students dedicated their time to assisting 117 local elementary and high schools. These students delivered vital supplementary lessons in critical areas such as science, mathematics, and digital literacy, with the intervention successfully reaching 14,000 school-aged children, providing a crucial uplift to their learning outcomes.
Beyond general schooling, specific faculties executed targeted campaigns designed to fill key skill gaps and promote cultural continuity. The Faculty of Cultural Sciences, for instance, implemented 12 language and cultural literacy programmes, empowering 2,400 adult learners in underserved villages by linking literacy to regional heritage.
Meanwhile, in science and technology, the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences conducted 25 practical "Science on the Move" demonstrations, giving 3,500 high school students hands-on exposure to applied science relevant to industry. Similarly, the Faculty of Computer Science reinforced future-ready skills by training 420 teachers and external students in crucial areas like coding and digital tools.
The university's formal outreach was powerfully amplified by its students. Voluntary organizations ran 46 independent projects over the year, focusing on critical social issues like financial literacy, public health awareness, and environmental education. These grassroots workshops collectively reached more than 8,000 additional participants, demonstrating a profound sense of civic engagement among USU's student body.
In total, USU’s multi-faceted approach—combining institutional mandate with student volunteerism—underscores its deep commitment to promoting fundamental skills, civic participation, and educational equity, fulfilling its role as a publicly engaged academic institution dedicated to the progress of North Sumatra.
USU Advances SDG 3 and SDG 17 Through Indonesia–Malaysia Technical Exchange on Zoonotic Malaria Surveillance
Universitas Satya Terra Bhinneka Visits USU for Benchmarking on SDGs Center and Sustainability Living Lab Development
USU and VNU Hanoi Forge Strategic Partnership: A Cross-Border Collaboration on History and Education
