USU PR - The Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) World Class University (WCU) team held a Top Scientist Webinar entitled "Smart City Politics in Southeast Asia". Held through a Zoom meeting on Tuesday (12/28/2021), the topic was presented by a Research Center Professor at Kyoto University, Mr. Masaaki Okamoto.

In his remarks, USU Rector Dr. Muryanto Amin., S.Sos., M.Si. said that the Covid-19 pandemic has played a real role in accelerating digital transformation and smart city planning in various countries, including countries in the Southeast Asia Region.

"The massive rate of technological change is a major challenge for cities in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia," he said.

According to the Rector, as an area that has a strategic position in world trade routes, the need for a smart city that focuses on public services and main administrative services on cloud computing and Artificial Intelligence technology is very important to be implemented quickly.

"Digital transformation and smart cities are a reality today and a target for the future that has begun rapidly in the present," he said.

He added that the main key in overcoming various problems, both in the fields of health, education, as well as other fields in micro and macro development is the agility in building collaborations for the use of digital technology, data analytics, and new funding systems, which combine physical and financial infrastructure. digital investment.

“We all have to be prepared, we have to keep learning fast, we have to be adaptive, skilled and willing to open up in response to these changes. Otherwise we will be left behind, run over and forgotten," the Rector said.

In response for that, the Rector invited USU academics not to be satisfied with teaching activities on campus, but to be active in exploring virtual learning spaces, being active in efforts to overcome social problems in the community and being active in making new innovations.

Through this activity, Dr. Muryanto also hopes that there will be cooperation in the field of research (joint research) or the writing of joint scientific papers, as well as other expanded collaborations with the Research Center Professor Kyoto University Japan.

"This activity can develop into other positive activities and support efforts to increase USU's ranking in the World University Ranking," he said. (©ULC)

Author: Bambang Riyanto - Humas

Interviewee: - - -

Photographer: Humas - Humas