USU PR- The Indonesian Literature Study Program (Prodi Sastra Indonesia) of the Faculty of Arts (FIB) at the Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) held a focus group discussion (FGD) as part of an alumni gathering at Cafe Rumah Kayu on Thursday, January 11, 2024.

The dean of the FIB, Prof. Dr. T. Thyrhaya Zein, M.A., who attended the event with the first vice dean, Prof. Mauly Purba, Ph.D., said that the alumni gathering was intended to strengthen the Indonesian Literature Study Program, which is currently seeking international accreditation. The event was also a part of the USU Rector Prof. Muryanto Amin's program to internationalize USU.

"USU is aware that alumni play an important role in strengthening our reputation in the industry world. Alumni who have become professionals in their respective fields certainly have a variety of experiences that can be valuable input for the university to improve the quality of our curriculum and graduates," said Prof. T. Thyrhaya Zein.

Prof. Thyrhaya hoped the event would produce valuable input and result in a harmonious collaboration between alumni and the program.

"We also run the Enhancing Quality Education for International University Recognition or EQUITY program. The EQUITY program is a strategy to rank USU internationally," he said.

The dean of the FIB explained that the EQUITY program is an important step to improve the quality of USU so that it can reach the 500 World Class University ranking. This is done by focusing on developing high-quality human resources, developing relevant research, and innovation in teaching approaches.

The head of the Indonesian Literature Study Program at the FIB, Dr. Dwi Widayati, M.Hum., accompanied by the secretary of the program, Dra. Nurhayati Harahap, M.Hum., explained that the Alumni Gathering was intended as a forum for alumni to share their thoughts and provide input on developing the Indonesian Literature Study Program.

"The alumni who were invited were selected by the program, with a total of about 30 participants with professional backgrounds in their respective fields and holding positions equivalent to middle managers," she said.

Dr. Dwi added that the main agenda of the event was a focus group discussion (FGD) on topics such as sharing professional career experiences, applying the knowledge or theories learned in college, and what knowledge can be applied or taught in the Indonesian Literature Study Program so that graduates of the Indonesian Literature Study Program can be quickly absorbed into the workforce.

"The FGD was also intended to open up broader collaboration between alumni and the program, such as inter-institutional cooperation for the Tri Dharma of PT, alumni as speakers in public lectures, and other collaborations that can be developed in order to advance the Indonesian Literature Study Program, which is now seeking international accreditation," she explained.

The Alumni Gathering was also accompanied by the appointment of a new board of directors for the Indonesian Language and Literature Alumni Association (KBABSI) so that communication and cooperation can be more focused and sustainable.

"Thank you to the USU leadership and the FIB deanate for fully supporting the Alumni Gathering of the Indonesian Literature Study Program at the FIB USU, and also to the alumni who attended and enthusiastically participated in the event," said Dr. Dwi Widayati.

For information, graduates or alumni of the Indonesian Literature Study Program have worked in various fields, such as researchers at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), the banking sector, the culture sector, government, education, language development, the military, the police, state organizers (KPU/KPI), journalists/media, entrepreneurs, editors, literacy activists, the creative industries, and so on.

Author: Bambang Riyanto - Humas

Interviewee: - - -

Photographer: Amri Simatupang - Humas