The Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sumatera Utara (FT USU), received a visit from PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (PT RAPP) during an audience and networking meeting held on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, in the 2nd Floor Meeting Room of FT USU. This meeting forms part of ongoing efforts to reinforce partnerships between higher education institutions and the industrial sector, particularly in cultivating competent human resources aligned with contemporary industry standards.
PT RAPP was represented by Bumantara Gani, Talent Management Program Manager, and Caroline S. Wijaya, Deputy Talent Management Program Manager. Discussions centered on various collaborative avenues between PT RAPP and FT USU, focusing on advancing student competencies, enhancing graduate readiness for the job market, and aligning university curricula with evolving industrial demands.
From FT USU, the meeting was attended by Prof. Dr. Ir. Renita Manurung, M.T. (Dean of FT USU); Prof. Dr. Ir. Rosdanelli Hasibuan, M.T. (Vice Dean for Education, Student Affairs, and Alumni Relations); and Said Perdana Nasution, S.T., M.T., Ph.D. (Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Cooperation, and Internationalization).
The audience also involved faculty members from the Chemical Engineering Study Program of FT USU, including Prof. Dr. Ir. Hamidah Harahap, M.Sc. (Head of the Undergraduate Chemical Engineering Program); Prof. Dr. Ir. Halimatuddahliana, S.T., M.Sc. (Secretary of the Undergraduate Chemical Engineering Program); Farida Hanum, S.T., M.T. (Secretary of the Master's and Doctoral Chemical Engineering Programs); alongside Prof. Dr. Ir. Taslim, M.Si., IPM, and Dr. Ir. Iriany, M.Si.
A primary topic of discussion was the potential launch of a scholarship program by PT RAPP for FT USU students. This initiative is viewed as a concrete form of industrial support toward educational sustainability while nurturing high-potential talent equipped with technical skills required by the modern workforce.
Beyond scholarship opportunities, the dialogue explored initiatives designed to connect students directly with professional corporate environments. Synergy between academia and industry is considered essential for strengthening students' technical and soft skills, providing insights into real-world industrial challenges, and raising graduate competitiveness.
Through this audience, FT USU and PT RAPP aim to establish concrete and sustainable partnership frameworks. This collaboration is expected not only to benefit student career development, but also to contribute toward preparing superior human capital capable of advancing national industrial development.
This meeting reaffirms FT USU's commitment to expanding industry partner networks as an integral part of enhancing educational quality, student competency development, and graduate alignment with professional sector needs.
This initiative directly aligns with SDG 4 (Quality Education) through the support of higher education scholarships and skill building, SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by improving graduate employability and career readiness, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by fostering strong collaboration between higher education and the industrial sector.