The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara (FISIP USU), has entered a new chapter in its academic administration with the official appointment of the Heads and Secretaries of Study Programs for the 2026–2031 term. The inauguration, held on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at the USU Student Center, marks the faculty's continued commitment to maintaining high-quality academic governance while strengthening the role of its study programs in supporting the implementation of the university's tridharma of higher education.
The appointment of new study program leaders represents an important milestone in ensuring academic management remains adaptive to the advancement of knowledge, the evolving needs of society, and the increasingly dynamic landscape of higher education. Through this new leadership, FISIP USU is expected to further enhance the quality of education, research, community service, and academic collaboration at both the national and international levels.
For the 2026–2031 term, several faculty members have been entrusted to lead study programs within FISIP USU. At the undergraduate level, the appointments include Dr. Dra. Sri Alem Br. Sembiring, M.Si. as Head of the Undergraduate Program in Social Anthropology; Dr. Onan Marakali Siregar, S.Sos., M.Si. as Head of the Undergraduate Program in Business Administration; Dr. Simson Ginting, S.Sos., MPA. as Head of the Undergraduate Program in Public Administration; Fajar Utama Ritonga, S.Sos., M.Kesos. as Head of the Undergraduate Program in Social Welfare; Dr. Yovita Sabarina Sitepu, S.Sos., M.Si. as Head of the Undergraduate Program in Communication Science; Dr. Evi Novida Ginting Manik, MSP. as Head of the Undergraduate Program in Political Science; and Dr. Drs. Muba Simanihuruk, M.Si. as Head of the Undergraduate Program in Sociology.
At the postgraduate level, several distinguished academics have also been appointed to lead their respective programs. They include Dr. Fotarisman Zaluchu, SKM., MPH., M.Si., as Head of the Master's Program in Anthropology; Dra. Dara Aisyah, M.Si., Ph.D,. as Head of the Master's Program in Public Administration; Prof. Dr. Drs. Iskandar Zulkarnain, M.S, i. as Head of both the Master's Program in Communication Science and the Doctoral Program in Communication Science; Dr. Dra. Tengku Irmayani, M.Si., as Head of the Master's Program in Political Science; Dr. Dra. Linda Elida, M.Si,. as Head of the Master's Program in Sociology; and Dr. Husni Thamrin, S.Sos., MSP., as Head of both the Master's Program in Development Studies and the Doctoral Program in Development Studies.
In addition to appointing the Heads of Study Programs, FISIP USU has also appointed Secretaries of Study Programs who will support the academic and administrative functions of each program. The presence of this new leadership team is expected to strengthen collaboration among study programs in fostering effective, innovative, and quality-oriented academic governance.
Alongside the appointment of the new study program leadership, FISIP USU continues to pursue its strategic institutional goals. One of its primary focuses is enhancing the quality and competitiveness of graduates by increasing the number of alumni who secure employment, become entrepreneurs, or pursue further education. The faculty also aims to expand student participation in off-campus learning initiatives, including the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) program, student exchange opportunities, and various activities that foster global competencies.
Academically, study programs are encouraged to continuously develop more adaptive learning methods through the implementation of case method and team-based project approaches. Strengthening the implementation of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) also remains a key priority to ensure that the learning process aligns with the intended graduate learning outcomes. These initiatives are expected to improve educational quality while ensuring graduates possess competencies that meet the demands of industry and society.
FISIP USU also places significant emphasis on strengthening human resource capacity. Strategic priorities for the coming years include increasing the number of doctoral-qualified faculty members, promoting academic rank advancement, and expanding the number of full professors. These efforts are expected to reinforce the quality of education and generate greater academic contributions to society.
In the areas of research and community service, the faculty continues to promote internationally recognized scholarly publications, impactful research benefiting society and industry, and research and community engagement activities aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Furthermore, expanding national and international partnerships remains an essential component of advancing the internationalization of study programs while creating broader collaboration opportunities for both faculty members and students. These commitments are in line with FISIP USU's objective of strengthening the recognition of its study programs through superior national accreditation and international certification. With the support of the newly appointed study program leaders, the faculty is optimistic about further enhancing its institutional competitiveness while delivering increasingly high-quality educational services to the academic community.
The appointment of the study program leadership for the 2026–2031 term represents a strategic step toward realizing FISIP USU's vision as an outstanding, adaptive, and globally competitive higher education institution. Through strong collaboration among the faculty leadership, study programs, academic staff, administrative personnel, students, and alumni, FISIP USU is expected to continue producing high-quality graduates while making meaningful contributions to local, national, and global development.
Author: Jemima Frieda Lumbantobing