MEDAN, September 20, 2026 | The successful implementation of “DPM Goes to Campus,” held on September 16, 2026, at the Faculty of Engineering Auditorium of Universitas Sumatera Utara (FT USU), was made possible in part by the active involvement of students from the Mining Engineering Study Program. The 2026 cohort of Mining Engineering students participated directly from the pre-event preparation through the completion of the program and helped invite approximately 200 students from several study programs within the Faculty of Engineering.
Mining Engineering students were not only participants but also served as members of the organizing team, helping ensure that various event requirements were properly prepared and coordinated. Each student took on specific responsibilities and worked as part of a coordinated organizing team led by Brandon Timothea Boston Siahaan.
From the preparation stage, students were involved in internal coordination, communication, administrative preparation, equipment setup, and other technical requirements for the event. On the day of the event, responsibilities were distributed across several teams. Davyna Alexandra and Marvel Sitorus served as master of ceremonies (MCs), while Stevany, Luvitha Fayyadh, Siren Pasha, Nadin Natalia Br. S Kambaren, Nazla Ulya, and Risky Suci were responsible for guest reception. David, Akuinas, and Kris handled the preparation and distribution of refreshments, while Purna Sarawarnan was responsible for documentation. Other students handled publication, equipment, administration, and various supporting duties.
This division of responsibilities gave students hands-on experience in how an event involving a university and an industry partner is prepared, coordinated, and executed professionally.
Learning to Manage Events Professionally
Student involvement in the event was also part of a broader learning experience beyond the classroom. Through the public lecture, students gained insights into the mining industry while also developing practical skills in leadership, coordination, communication, teamwork, time management, guest relations, and event management.
The coordination carried out from the pre-event stage taught students that the success of an event depends on clear task assignments and consistent communication among team members.
Each student had different responsibilities, but all roles were interconnected. The administration team coordinated with the guest reception team, while the equipment team ensured that all technical requirements were available. The documentation and publication teams captured and shared the event, while the MCs and refreshments team helped ensure that the event proceeded according to the scheduled agenda.
This working structure provided students with practical experience in the importance of teamwork and cross-functional coordination, competencies that are also essential as they enter the professional world.
Recognized by the Faculty and Industry Partner
The students’ coordination and active involvement in supporting the event received appreciation from PT Dairi Prima Mineral and the leadership of the USU Faculty of Engineering.
Dean of the USU Faculty of Engineering, Prof. Dr. Ir. Renita Manurung, M.T., and Vice Dean for Education, Student Affairs and Alumni Affairs and Acting Head of the Mining Engineering Study Program, Prof. Dr. Ir. Rosdanelli Hasibuan, M.T., expressed their appreciation for the students’ contributions to the successful implementation of the event.
Their involvement demonstrated that students can play an active role in building communication and relationships between the academic community and the industry.
From the company’s perspective, student involvement also created an open environment for interaction between industry professionals and young people preparing to enter the professional world.
For Mining Engineering students, the opportunity to interact directly with professionals from PT Dairi Prima Mineral (DPM) provided valuable exposure to the workplace, insights into industry expectations, and an opportunity to begin building professional networks while still at university.
Building Professional Networks with Industry
“DPM Goes to Campus” also provided an opportunity for students to begin developing professional networks with industry. Direct interaction with industry professionals gave students a better understanding of the competencies and professional attitudes expected in the workplace.
Professional networks established through academic events like this can become valuable social and professional capital as students develop their careers. Relationships among students, the university, and industry partners may also create opportunities for future academic and professional initiatives, including industry guest lectures, internships, research projects, competency development, seminars, and final-year projects.
Student involvement therefore extended beyond the successful implementation of a single event. It also contributed to the broader process of strengthening relationships between the USU Mining Engineering Study Program and the mining industry.
A Platform for Academic Engagement Among Faculty of Engineering Students
In addition to providing organizational experience and opportunities for professional networking, “DPM Goes to Campus” served as a platform for academic engagement among students of the USU Faculty of Engineering.
The event brought together students from various study programs, including Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Mining Engineering, and Industrial Engineering.
The participation of students from different engineering disciplines created an opportunity for them to meet, exchange perspectives, and build stronger connections beyond their respective study programs.
Bringing students together from different academic disciplines created opportunities to get to know one another, exchange perspectives, and build communication across study programs. In an academic environment with diverse fields of study, interactions like these are important for strengthening a sense of community and unity among students of the USU Faculty of Engineering.
The event also provided students with an opportunity to meet peers from other study programs beyond their regular academic activities. Broader interaction can help foster mutual respect, reduce potential misunderstandings among students, and contribute to a more open and collaborative academic culture.
Learning That Mining Is a Multidisciplinary Field
The participation of students from various study programs also demonstrated that the mining sector is closely connected to multiple engineering disciplines.
Mining Engineering is closely associated with mine planning and operations, but mining activities also require support from multiple engineering disciplines. Civil Engineering contributes to infrastructure development, Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering support equipment and electrical systems, Chemical Engineering contributes to processing and material management, Environmental Engineering addresses environmental impacts, while Industrial Engineering supports efficiency and work systems.
This multidisciplinary perspective is important for students because the demands of the professional world increasingly require the ability to communicate and collaborate with professionals from different fields and areas of expertise.
Through “DPM Goes to Campus,” students not only gained insights into the mining industry but also experienced firsthand how collaboration, communication, and cross-disciplinary teamwork can be developed in an academic and professional setting.
Relevance to the Sustainable Development Goals
Student involvement in “DPM Goes to Campus” is relevant to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
For USU Mining Engineering students, the experience went beyond supporting the successful implementation of an academic event. It gave them an opportunity to put teamwork, communication, leadership, and professional networking into practice while interacting directly with industry professionals and students from other engineering disciplines.
The event also demonstrated how student-led initiatives can create meaningful connections between campus and industry. From coordinating event logistics to engaging with professionals and peers, students gained firsthand experience of the collaboration and professionalism expected in the workplace.
With students, academics, and industry representatives sharing the same forum, “DPM Goes to Campus” became more than a public lecture. It provided a practical learning space, strengthened connections across the Faculty of Engineering, and opened opportunities for continued engagement between USU Mining Engineering and the mining industry.