MEDAN – USU Public Relations: Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) inaugurated five new professors from various academic disciplines during a ceremony held at the USU Student Center on Tuesday (4 August 2026). With this inauguration, USU now has 232 active professors, who are expected to serve as key drivers in strengthening higher education, research, innovation, and community engagement, while advancing the university's role as an impactful institution at both the national and international levels.

The five newly inaugurated professors are Prof. Susilawati from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), Prof. Evi Karota Bukit from the Faculty of Nursing (FKEP), Prof. Mazdalifah from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), Prof. Putri Chairani Eyanoer from the Faculty of Medicine (FK), and Prof. Rusdi Noor Rosa from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB).

USU Rector Prof. Dr. Muryanto Amin, S.Sos., M.Si., stated that the growing number of professors represents an important achievement for the university and serves as a strategic asset in strengthening USU's role as a higher education institution capable of making meaningful contributions to national development.

"Alhamdulillah, USU now has 232 active professors, including the five professors inaugurated today," the Rector said.

According to him, the inauguration of professors is more than an academic ceremony; it is an affirmation of the responsibility entrusted to scholars to serve as intellectual leaders who uphold academic excellence, guide the implementation of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education—education, research, and community service—and provide scientific solutions to societal challenges.

He emphasized that the occasion also serves as a reflection on the increasingly complex global challenges facing higher education. In this context, professors play a strategic role in driving the university's transformation so that it can effectively address future issues while contributing to Indonesia's progress.

"Our next important task is to fulfill our collective responsibility to strengthen the quality of our academic staff, accelerate the transformation of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education, expand scholarly networks, and ensure that Universitas Sumatera Utara continues to serve as an impactful university at both the national and international levels," he said.

The Rector added that professors' contributions in generating knowledge-based solutions are among the key indicators shaping a university's reputation. Amid rapid global change, the advancement of knowledge requires not only a strong epistemological foundation but also the ability to translate academic ideas into practical applications that benefit society.

According to him, the role of professors should no longer be confined to conceptual or philosophical discourse. Instead, they are expected to produce innovative and applicable discoveries that can inform policymaking and help address challenges at the local, national, and global levels.

"The expertise of a professor should no longer remain solely at the level of abstract philosophy. It must evolve into the realm of axiology or practical application. More concrete findings are essential so that academic ideas can be adopted in decision-making processes that generate real impact," the Rector concluded.