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The Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), has initiated the establishment of a Doctoral Program in Forestry as a strategic step to strengthen the development of higher education, research, and scientific publications in the field of forestry. The initiative was discussed at a Faculty Advisory Board (DPF) meeting held on Wednesday (28 October 2026) in the Meeting Room of the USU Faculty of Forestry.
The meeting addressed two main agendas: the initiation of the establishment of a Doctoral Program in Forestry and the reconstruction of the curriculum based on Outcome-Based Education (OBE). The forum served as a platform for gathering academic and strategic considerations to ensure the faculty's readiness to develop a high-quality and sustainable doctoral program.
During the discussion, the DPF members considered the establishment of a Doctoral Program in Forestry to have promising prospects, supported by the availability of academic resources, including the number of professors within the faculty, as well as the need to develop forestry education at the doctoral level. The program is also expected to address the needs of lecturers and alumni who wish to pursue doctoral studies in forestry without having to study outside North Sumatra.
Several strategic aspects were also highlighted, including projected student enrollment, fulfillment of the requirements for permanent lecturers or homebase appointments, and the enhancement of laboratory facilities and infrastructure. Prof. Samsuri emphasized the importance of mapping the sustainability of prospective student enrollment and preparing a convincing proposal as the basis for submitting the program establishment proposal to the USU Academic Senate.
Meanwhile, the Dean of the USU Faculty of Forestry, Prof. Dr. Arida Susilowati, highlighted the importance of measurable student admission planning, with an initial target of at least 10 students per cohort. She also emphasized the need to establish a distinctive identity and strengths for the Doctoral Program in Forestry, accompanied by promotional strategies to reach prospective students.
In addition to expanding access to doctoral education, the program is considered to have the potential to create opportunities for research collaboration and scientific publications, including through partnerships with universities and international partners. Team teaching and joint supervision schemes involving international academics were also raised as alternatives to strengthen the quality of learning and students' research experience.
The establishment of the doctoral program is also expected to benefit lecturer capacity development, increase the ratio of postgraduate students to the overall student population, and strengthen academic infrastructure. Opportunities to attract students from various institutions and scholarship schemes, including scholarship programs available to lecturers, are also part of the considerations for developing the program.
This initiative aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education, through the development of access to quality higher education, and SDG 15: Life on Land, through strengthening research capacity and the development of forestry science to support the sustainable conservation of forest ecosystems.