USU Public Relation – Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) welcomed a team of assessors from the Independent Accreditation Agency for Social Sciences, Politics, Public Administration, and Communication (LAMSPAK) to conduct an on-site assessment of the Doctoral (Ph.D.) Program in Development Studies at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) on Monday (July 20, 2026).

In his remarks, the Rector of USU expressed his hope that the on-site assessment would produce the best possible outcome for the Doctoral Program in Development Studies. He noted that an improved accreditation rating would further strengthen the program's reputation and enhance public confidence.

"We sincerely hope that this assessment will result in the best possible outcome for improving the accreditation of the Doctoral Program in Development Studies. We hope the program, which is currently accredited as Very Good, will achieve an even higher accreditation rating," he said.

The Rector also emphasized that the Doctoral Program in Development Studies plays a strategic role in producing thinkers, researchers, and policymakers capable of addressing a wide range of development challenges. Therefore, continuous efforts are needed to strengthen the quality of education, research, community service, and collaborative networks.

Meanwhile, LAMSPAK Assessor Prof. Dr. Dra. R. Nunung Nurwati, M.S., stated that, in general, the accreditation documents had been well prepared. However, she noted that several indicators still required further strengthening, particularly regarding supporting evidence, research outputs, and scientific publications.

"Overall, the accreditation report is well prepared; however, we still need more supporting evidence," she remarked.

Through this on-site assessment, the Doctoral Program in Development Studies at FISIP USU is expected to further enhance the quality of its academic implementation and achieve a higher accreditation rating.