MEDAN – USU PUBLIC RELATIONS: The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences of Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) held a scientific oration entitled “Digital Government and the Future of Urban Governance” at the FISIP USU Multipurpose Hall on Wednesday (November 4, 2026). The event was part of FISIP USU’s 46th Anniversary celebration and addressed the importance of digital technological advancements in supporting public services and urban governance.

(Photo: Amri Affandi Simatupang)

USU Vice Rector for Human Resources, Finance, and Information Systems, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Arifin Nasution, S.Sos., M.SP., stated that the theme of the scientific oration was highly relevant to current developments. According to him, digital technology has transformed the way governments deliver public services, formulate policies, and interact with society.

“Government digitalization is not merely about transferring conventional services to digital platforms. More importantly, digital government requires fundamental changes in ways of thinking, work culture, decision-making systems, and patterns of interaction between the government and society,” he said.

He also emphasized the important role of higher education institutions in supporting the development of digital government. He noted that universities should not only serve as places to study change but also contribute through research, innovation, and policy recommendations that can be implemented in society.

(Photo: Amri Affandi Simatupang)

“Universities must not merely observe change; they must be part of the solution through the advancement of knowledge, research, innovation, and policy recommendations that are relevant to society’s needs,” he said.

Medan Mayor Rico Tri Putra Bayu Waas explained that digital technology is developing at a rapid pace. He emphasized that the government must be able to adapt to these changes, particularly in delivering services to a community that increasingly expects convenience and speed.

“Change is happening so rapidly today. We cannot afford to wait too long. Every day, even every second, brings change. Therefore, we must be adaptive. The government must also adapt to the digital world,” he explained.

He further stated that digital development must be accompanied by a change in mindset in the way the government operates. According to him, people today expect public services to be reliable, transparent, and accountable. Therefore, the government needs to utilize technology to build closer relationships with the community.

“The government must not remain idle or simply stand by. People today expect services and governance that are accountable, trustworthy, transparent, and responsible,” he said.

Furthermore, he added that the Medan City Government welcomes opportunities for students to contribute to digital innovation development. He stated that students’ research findings and ideas could be submitted to the government for consideration in the formulation of policies and the implementation of future programs.

“Absolutely. In fact, we welcome such contributions. Research conducted by members of the community can be submitted to us and may even be implemented in government. This means that future policies can be put into practice,” he added.

Rico Tri Putra Bayu Waas also encouraged students not to remain apathetic toward issues affecting their surroundings. He hoped that students would take part in development efforts according to their abilities and fields of expertise, without necessarily having to become politicians.

“Get involved. We also give you the freedom to contribute; we do not require you to become politicians. What matters is that everyone contributes to development. Stay away from apathy. Let us build this together,” he said.

The scientific oration is expected to provide a platform for exchanging ideas between the government and the academic community, particularly in discussing digital technological developments and the role of students in supporting better urban governance.