HUMAS FAHUTA - The Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), has initiated the establishment of an Expert Services Clinic as a strategic step to map and optimize the competencies of its human resources. The initiative was discussed during the Expert Services Clinic Initiation Discussion held on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at the Meeting Room of the USU Faculty of Forestry, Campus 2 Bekala, Deli Serdang.
The discussion was led by the Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Cooperation, and Internationalization, Dr. Anita Zaitunah, and attended by Dean’s Expert Staff Dr. Nelly Anna, Head of PUI Bamboo Dr. Samsuri, Secretary of PUI Mangrove Dr. Bejo Slamet, Head of Puska Kehati-Link Dr. Nurdin Sulistiyono, as well as several lecturers from the USU Faculty of Forestry, including Deanova Frestiana Pelawi, M.Sc., Dr. Achmad Siddik Thoha, Dr. Ridwanti Batubara, Dr. Pindi Patana, and Dr. Tito Sucipto.
In her remarks, Dr. Anita Zaitunah explained that the establishment of the Expert Services Clinic is an important part of mapping competencies across various fields of expertise, including those within the Centers of Excellence in Science and Technology (PUI) and research centers at the USU Faculty of Forestry. The mapping is considered important to ensure that the various areas of expertise that have been developed can be packaged in a more structured manner and made more accessible to potential partners.
One of the planned outputs of this initiative is an expert services catalog that maps the competencies and services available at the USU Faculty of Forestry. The catalog is expected to serve as a reference for partners seeking expertise that matches their needs while creating opportunities for more targeted and sustainable collaboration.
“With this expertise mapping, partners will find it easier to identify the available competencies and match them with their collaboration needs. At the same time, the Expert Services Clinic is expected to become one of the faculty’s income-generating instruments,” said Dr. Anita.
The discussion continued with an open forum moderated by Dr. Nelly Anna. During the discussion, Dr. Achmad Siddik Thoha highlighted the potential for expert services in drone technology, which has been developed through various training programs and competency development initiatives.
According to him, drone operation skills are increasingly needed in various forestry sectors, including land management, mapping, area monitoring, and disaster management. These competencies also provide added value for students by supporting their readiness to enter the workforce, whether in government institutions or the private sector.
In line with efforts to commercialize expert services, Dr. Luthfi Hakim also suggested that drone training services be accompanied by a clear pricing scheme. This was considered important to ensure that the expert services offered have professional and sustainable management mechanisms.
The initiation of the Expert Services Clinic marks the first step for the USU Faculty of Forestry in connecting academic expertise with the real needs of communities, government institutions, businesses, and various stakeholders. Through more systematic competency mapping, the faculty is expected to provide professional expertise-based services while expanding opportunities for collaboration and knowledge downstreaming.
This initiative is also aligned with the spirit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. By strengthening competencies, developing innovative expert services, and collaborating with various partners, the USU Faculty of Forestry continues to encourage academic expertise to provide broader benefits for sustainable forestry development.