MEDAN, – September 21, 2024 — Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) has dramatically intensified its commitment to lifelong learning and workforce development in 2024. The university is actively bridging the professional skill gap by executing 429 comprehensive outreach activities, effectively impacting an estimated 85,000 citizens across the region, with a strong focus on vocational and executive education.

This massive scale of engagement demonstrates USU’s role as a proactive partner dedicated to strengthening professional skill acquisition and local economic development in North Sumatra. The effort mobilizes the university’s considerable resources, including its 5,000 students and 700 lecturers, across 14 districts.

Fostering Executive Excellence: The Graduate School's Mandate

USU maintains a vital Executive Student Program at its Graduate School, specifically designed to address the advanced knowledge needs of mid-career professionals seeking career enhancement and high-level skill updates.

This prestigious program is routinely attended by key personnel from North Sumatra’s most strategic economic and governmental sectors, including employees from:

  • Major Financial Institutions (bank staff).
  • Strategic State-Owned Enterprises (Nusantara Plantations staff).
  • Large Private Corporations (Astra Group staff).
  • Governmental Bodies (regional Tax Office staff).

By accommodating the need for flexible, high-level education for these active professionals, USU ensures its academic expertise directly strengthens the leadership and management capabilities within North Sumatra's economy.

Large-Scale Vocational Training and Skills Transfer

Beyond high-level executive courses, the university’s general outreach model has shifted to emphasize practical, specialized vocational training targeted at future-proofing the workforce:

  • Vocation & Digital Skills: The Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology intensively trained 420 teachers and local workers in crucial skills such as coding, data security, and digital tools, directly addressing the local demand for a future-ready workforce.
  • Applied Science for Industry: The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences ran 25 ‘Science on the Move’ demonstrations for 3,500 learners. These workshops focused specifically on transferring applied scientific knowledge directly relevant to local industry innovation.
  • Adult Literacy and Heritage: The Faculty of Cultural Sciences delivered 12 targeted literacy programs to 2,400 adult learners, skillfully pairing reading comprehension with regional cultural heritage to foster intellectual capacity and job readiness.
  • Health and Legal Expertise: The medical and law faculties provided direct, concrete services to the community, supporting 6,500 families with essential health intervention sessions and offering much-needed legal aid and guidance.

This comprehensive model underscores USU's commitment to transforming its academic capital into real-world professional competencies and strengthening the human capital foundation of the region.