HUMAS USU - The University of Sumatera Utara (USU), together with PANDI (Indonesian Internet Domain Name Registry), organized a Batak Script Website Competition which was attended by a number of participants from various backgrounds. The competition aims to preserve and introduce the richness of Batak culture through digital media that is easily accessible to the wider community. It was held at the FISIP Hall on (27/08/2025).

The competition was held in order to design and develop a web-based learning tool that contains Batak scripts. With 250 participants, this website will explain each character in the script, along with its function and application.

Prof. Dr. Robert Sibarani, M.S., Head of USU's Research Institute, saw this event as a form of the campus's commitment to maintaining regional cultural identity while encouraging digital innovation in the field of culture. In North Sumatra, there are several ethnic groups, which shows that the writing of the Batak script also has variations in each of its characters.

“The goal is to revitalize the heritage for young people. With this website, people will be able to learn the script of the Batak people,” said Prof. Robert.

Furthermore, Drs. Jekmen Sinulingga, M.Hum., Head of the Batak Literature Study Program, emphasized that this competition is not just an event but a collaboration between academics, practitioners, and culture. It encourages participants not only to master technology but also to have a sense of care in preserving regional cultural heritage. It also helps to protect the cultural symbols of the Batak tribe. “With this website, it can help protect symbols and especially the Batak script,” said the Head of the Batak Literature Study Program.

Lastly, John Sihar Simanjuntak, Head of PANDI, revealed that the Batak script is not only a part of history but also continues to live and be relevant amid the rapid development of information technology. It is a language that must live and be used by the community in the region. The presence of information technology is an important bridge to introduce the identity of the Batak tribe to various parts of the world.

“The movement is for how local communities, in this case, script activists, can push local scripts into the digital realm,” he explained.