USU Public Relations — The gap between theory and practice still frequently occurs in the world of education. This condition causes many societal issues to remain unresolved due to the limited role of academics in addressing real problems around them.

For this reason, the Rector of Universitas Sumatera Utara, Prof. Dr. Muryanto Amin, S.Sos., M.Si., encouraged graduates, after completing their studies, to continue learning relentlessly, to be brave in making decisions, and to continuously develop systematic thinking by aligning theoretical knowledge with technical skills to respond to existing challenges.

“An educated individual and a university graduate are always expected to possess these two inseparable abilities. That is why today’s graduation theme is From Theory to Action: Bridging the Gap and Creating New Values in the Transformation of Civilization,” said Prof. Mury before 1,843 graduates who attended the inauguration ceremony on Friday (14/02/2025) at the USU Auditorium.

The Rector explained that changes in today’s world of work are not only marked by the emergence of new technologies, but also by shifts in the skills that are most needed. The most critical future skills are no longer purely technical abilities, but human capabilities in thinking, attitude, and action.

“The world of work is not only seeking academically intelligent individuals, but those who can think clearly, adapt under pressure, lead, collaborate, and understand themselves and their environment,” he reiterated.

The workplace needs graduates who not only know, but are able to make decisions and take real action so that the gap between theory and practice no longer exists. Prof. Mury illustrated this through the case of Starbucks, a global company with thousands of outlets worldwide that makes millions of small decisions every day which determine the sustainability of its business.

“When Starbucks faced major pressure, slowing growth, and increasingly complex operational challenges, it took a step that at the time seemed logical. The company appointed a CEO with a strong background as a global strategy consultant, highly skilled in analysis and business direction formulation,” he explained.

In meeting rooms, the company’s direction appeared clear, strategies were neatly structured, ideal indicators were defined, and timelines were well organized. However, Starbucks’ problems did not lie in meeting rooms. They existed at store level, in customer queues, and in daily work rhythms. Service processes slowed, and customer numbers declined across its outlets.

“Decisions that were highly logical at the strategic level did not fully address the problems directly experienced by each store. Not because the strategy was wrong, but because the distance between decision-makers and on-the-ground realities was too wide,” he elaborated.

As a result, the company’s value declined significantly in a short period. This experience taught Starbucks that at certain phases, organizations do not only need intelligent thinkers, but leaders who understand the field. Starbucks realized that intelligence alone was not enough; organizations need leaders who not only think, but are also courageous in executing decisions and accountable for their impact.

“A change in direction was then taken. Starbucks appointed a leader known as a field operator — a professional accustomed to managing businesses serving millions of customers daily, understanding frontline teams, supply chains, and operational realities firsthand. This appointment was seen as a strong signal that Starbucks wanted to reconnect business strategy with practical, executable solutions to real problems. Loyal customers responded positively to this shift due to fundamental service improvements at store level,” he said.

According to Prof. Mury, this story teaches that many failures occur not because of a lack of theory, but because of mistakes in transforming theory into action. A good strategy requires the courage to execute it, and strong leadership is tested not in presentation rooms, but in the field.

Theory without field experience, he added, loses its driving force. Conversely, experience without the courage to make decisions will not bring about change. For graduates, this message is highly relevant.

“The world of work does not always wait for us to be perfectly prepared with ideal answers. Often, we are required to make decisions amid limitations and take full responsibility for implementing them. This is the true meaning of From Theory to Action — transforming knowledge into action, and action into value that contributes to collective well-being,” he concluded.

University Achievements

On the same occasion, the Rector also presented achievements in the internationalization programs undertaken by Universitas Sumatera Utara. Internationalization is not about making Indonesian students feel foreign in their own city, but about expanding perspectives toward a diverse and interconnected global world in the development of knowledge.

Currently, Universitas Sumatera Utara is ranked 1001 in QS World University Rankings, 268 in QS Asia University Rankings, 851 in QS Sustainability, 1501+ in THE World University Rankings, and 601 in THE Impact Rankings. The university has 28 internationally accredited study programs, 87 programs with “Excellent” accreditation, and will open 28 International Undergraduate Programs in 2026 in collaboration with universities in the United Kingdom, Europe, and Australia through joint and double degree schemes.

Student mobility and staff mobility programs are also implemented at Universitas Sumatera Utara to allow students and lecturers to experience firsthand the “sense of perfect detail” practiced by top universities worldwide.

“In addition to internationalization programs, Universitas Sumatera Utara provides scholarships for underprivileged yet high-achieving students from their first semester and guarantees that no Indonesian citizen is unable to pursue higher education due to financial constraints,” he concluded.