HUMAS USU – Universitas Sumatera Utara held a Leadership Capacity Building Program (Leadership Seminar) titled “Indonesia’s Grand Narrative: The Strategic Role of USU and North Sumatra for the Nation’s Future,” featuring strategic transformation coach Muhammad Furqan Alfaruqiy.

The event served as a strategic reflection forum on the importance of strengthening Indonesia’s grand direction toward Golden Indonesia 2045, particularly in facing geopolitical and geo-economic changes, technological transformation, and increasingly dynamic global competition.

Muhammad Furqan Alfaruqiy emphasized the importance of rebuilding Indonesia’s grand narrative through an understanding of the nation’s historical journey, future global challenges, and the urgency of strengthening human resource quality based on culture, scientific knowledge, and strategic leadership. More importantly, he noted that Indonesia’s grand narrative should reinforce cross-sector collaboration toward Golden Indonesia 2045.

“Indonesia needs to strengthen its collective national narrative so that development transformation is not solely oriented toward economic growth, but also toward strengthening character, a culture of innovation, leadership capacity, and the resilience of national civilization,” he stated.

Muhammad Furqan Alfaruqiy, a motivational figure who previously served as VP Director of IBIS Dharma Nusa (1996–1998), part of IBISWorld – Industry Intelligence, Data and Analysis based in Melbourne, Australia, also highlighted the strategic position of North Sumatra as one of the key pillars of Indonesia’s future, both in terms of geo-economics, social diversity, and the potential development of innovation-based research and industrial ecosystems in western Indonesia.

“This activity also marks the initial phase of consolidating major ideas for the development of human resources, strategic research, and innovation-based industrial transformation in North Sumatra, which will continue to be developed through academic forums, cross-sector collaboration, and sustainable strategic initiatives in the future,” he added.

The event was officially opened by the Rector of Universitas Sumatera Utara, Prof. Dr. Muryanto Amin, S.Sos., M.Si., represented by the Vice Rector for Human Resources, Finance, and Information Systems, Dr. Muhammad Arifin Nasution, S.Sos., M.SP. In his remarks, he stated that higher education institutions have an important responsibility in preparing superior, adaptive, and competitive human resources to face Indonesia’s future challenges.

The seminar was moderated by the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Dr. Rulianda Purnomo Wibowo, S.P., M.Ec., and involved participants from various academic sectors within USU.