09 December 2024
-
Medan, 09 December 2024 – Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) is demonstrating concrete progress in its commitment to gender equality and accountability through a comprehensive, data-driven admissions monitoring system. Managed collaboratively by the Academic Bureau and the Directorate of Education Development, this system systematically measures women’s application, acceptance, and entry rates across all entry routes.
USU utilizes its centralized Admissions Information System to collect detailed, gender-disaggregated data each academic year, covering all pathways: academic achievement route, national test route, and the Independent Selection.
The 2024 data highlights successful inclusion: women represented 56% of all applicants, 55% of those accepted, and 54% of new degree entrants, translating to approximately 5,600 women joining the university.
Faculties such as Nursing, Public Health, Cultural Sciences, Pharmacy, and Psychology consistently maintained high female representation, ranging from 65–80% of applicants and admits. Significantly, Engineering, Agriculture, and Computer Science also showed steady annual growth in female enrolment, reflecting tangible progress toward gender diversification in critical STEM fields.
“USU’s admissions monitoring system allows us to ensure that gender equality is not only a value but a measurable outcome,” said Ir. Ikhsan Siregar S.T., M.Eng., Ph.D. Head of the Directorate of Education Development. “By reviewing and publishing gender-disaggregated data each year, we can identify gaps, refine recruitment strategies, and guarantee fair access for women in every discipline.”
All gender-disaggregated data are consolidated and analyzed in the Gender Equality Monitoring Report, which directly informs USU’s policies, outreach initiatives, and resource allocation. These findings are used strategically to expand Poverty-Targeted Scholarship for female applicants from rural or low-income families and to promote women’s participation in STEM disciplines through targeted outreach and mentoring programmes.
This evidence-based approach is deeply embedded in the university's governance structure, aligning with Academic Regulation No. 13 of 2022 and Rector’s Decree No. 459/UN5.1.R/SK/SPB/2023, which emphasize equality, justice, and inclusivity in higher education access and management.
“Transparent and data-driven evaluation is central to our vision of inclusive excellence,” stated Prof. Dr. Muryanto Amin, S.Sos., M.Si., Rector of Universitas Sumatera Utara. “By tracking women’s participation at every stage—from application to graduation—USU ensures that opportunity is equitable, measurable, and sustainable.
USU’s systematic monitoring of women’s admissions and enrolment demonstrates a concrete contribution to SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality). This accountability is further integrated with broader institutional goals, guided by Rector’s Decree No No. 3 of 2019 on the Green and Sustainable Campus Framework and Rector’s Circular Letter No. 1 of 2023 on inclusion and carbon neutrality.
Through this comprehensive data-driven framework, Universitas Sumatera Utara ensures transparency, fairness, and measurable progress toward gender equality—empowering women to access, participate, and lead in every field of higher education.
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
