JAKARTA – USU PR – The Rector of Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), together with the University's executive leaders, faculty deans, and heads of administrative units, attended the 2026 National Dialogue of the Indonesian Science, Technology, and Industry Convention (KSTI), held from June 26–28, 2026, at Hall B of the Jakarta International Convention Center (JICC) in Jakarta.

USU's participation in this strategic national forum reflects the University's commitment to strengthening the role of higher education in Indonesia's development through the advancement of science, technology, research, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration. The 2026 KSTI National Dialogue was held under the theme "Strategies for Indonesia's Economic Self-Reliance and Prosperity," with the objective of formulating science-based strategic recommendations to support the government's national development agenda.

The USU delegation was led by Prof. Dr. Muryanto Amin, S.Sos., M.Si., Rector of Universitas Sumatera Utara, and included the Chair of the Academic Senate, the Secretary of the Board of Trustees, the Vice Rector for Partnership Affairs, the Vice Rector for Planning, the University Secretary, the deans of the Faculties of Psychology, Engineering, Forestry, Law, Agriculture, and Vocational Education, as well as the Director of Public Relations, Promotion, and Protocol.

The forum, jointly organized by the Indonesian State University Rectors Council (MRPTNI), the Indonesian Rectors Forum, and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, brought together representatives from higher education institutions and various national strategic stakeholders to discuss Indonesia's development priorities.

The discussions focused on several strategic sectors, including the economy and finance, agriculture, food security, energy, downstream industrial development, marine affairs and fisheries, and education. The forum highlighted the vital role of universities in producing highly qualified human resources, generating innovation, and contributing research-based ideas to support public policymaking.

According to the Dean of the Faculty of Forestry at USU, Prof. Dr. Arida Susilowati, S.Hut., M.Si., one of the key topics discussed during the dialogue was strengthening food security, forestry, environmental sustainability, and climate resilience. The forum emphasized that climate change requires science-, technology-, and innovation-based approaches, including stronger transdisciplinary research and collaboration among the government, universities, industry, and the broader community.

From an academic perspective, climate change should be viewed as an opportunity to transform the direction of research, education, and community engagement. Universities need to strengthen transdisciplinary research that integrates forestry, agriculture, environmental science, economics, technology, and public policy to produce practical and applicable solutions. Research should not be limited to scientific publications but should also generate innovations that can be adopted by governments, industries, and communities, such as adaptive agroforestry models, community-based landscape rehabilitation, forest fire early warning systems, carbon monitoring technologies, and bioeconomy development based on non-timber forest products.

Beyond producing innovation, universities are expected to serve as providers of scientific evidence to support policymaking on food security, forest management, and climate change adaptation. Through strong collaboration among academics, government institutions, industry, and society, the outcomes of the 2026 KSTI National Dialogue are expected to serve as a foundation for a development system that not only promotes economic growth but also safeguards ecosystem sustainability, strengthens community resilience to climate change, and ensures the availability of environmental services for future generations.

Vocational education also emerged as a significant topic of discussion, particularly in supporting the transformation of higher education to better meet the needs of industry, downstream development, and national economic self-reliance. Vocational education is expected to produce adaptive talents capable of supporting strategic sectors such as food, energy, industry, and local economic development.

Through its active participation in the 2026 KSTI National Dialogue, USU reaffirmed its role as a university that not only advances academic excellence but also contributes science-based solutions and strategic recommendations for the nation's progress.

The recommendations formulated during the 2026 KSTI National Dialogue are expected to become a strategic foundation for strengthening Indonesia's development into one that is inclusive, adaptive, competitive, and oriented toward economic self-reliance and the well-being of its people.