27 January 2020
Threesna Sharfina
MEDAN – USU Public Relations: Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) has expressed full support for the implementation of the Kampus Merdeka (Independent Campus) policy launched by Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Makarim on January 25, 2020, in Jakarta. USU Rector, Prof. Dr. Runtung Sitepu, S.H., M.Hum., affirmed this commitment following a national meeting between the Ministry of Education and Culture and university rectors across Indonesia at the Ministry’s headquarters.
The four key policies of Kampus Merdeka—a continuation of the Merdeka Belajar (Freedom to Learn) initiative—include: greater flexibility in opening new study programs, revisions to the accreditation system, easier transition to Legal Entity State University (PTN-BH) status, and allowing students to study for up to three semesters outside their home departments. As a PTN-BH since 2003, USU is fully authorized to implement these policies. The university will carefully assess labor market needs before launching any new programs.
One of the new programs USU plans to introduce is a Palm Oil Study Program, considering North Sumatra’s historical significance as the first palm oil plantation region on Sumatra Island. To support this, USU will engage in discussions with stakeholders such as the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) and the Palm Oil Research Center (PPKS), both of which have existing MoUs with the university. An inventory of faculty human resources will be conducted in collaboration with experts from GAPKI and PPKS, who will also assist in developing the curriculum and necessary academic infrastructure.
Regarding the second and third policies, USU also welcomes the streamlined accreditation process and simplified PTN-BH status procedures, as these are expected to save significant time and resources. The Rector noted that automatic re-accreditation allows universities to redirect focus and funding toward the fulfillment of higher education’s three pillars: education, research, and community service.
On the final policy—granting students the right to study across departments—Prof. Runtung considers it a promising step toward producing graduates with multidisciplinary competencies. He announced plans to immediately socialize this policy across all study programs at USU to ensure cohesive implementation and curricular alignment.
He emphasized that this policy must be implemented with caution. USU will carefully select compatible programs to avoid disruptions in core learning outcomes. The ultimate goal is to produce graduates who are highly relevant to modern labor market demands.
Prof. Runtung also stated that USU would intensify collaboration with industry players to enrich students’ skill sets with real-world competencies. Although USU has not formally implemented cross-departmental learning, it has practiced a similar concept through its Community Service Program (Kuliah Kerja Nyata or KKN) since 2016. In this program, students from diverse academic backgrounds work together to address real-world problems in local communities.
Participation in USU’s KKN has grown significantly over the years, with 272 participants in 2016, increasing to 534 in 2017, 1,118 in 2018, and 1,284 students in 2019. (Public Relations)
