The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) at Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU) held its graduation confirmation ceremony (Yudisium) for 299 graduates on Thursday, June 18, at the UMSU Auditorium on Jalan Muchtar Basri No. 3, Medan.
The graduating class comprised 29 graduates from the Social Welfare program, 53 from Public Administration, and 217 from Communication Science. Three outstanding graduates were honored with academic awards and full scholarships to pursue master’s degrees at the UMSU Graduate School.
In his keynote address, UMSU Vice Rector I, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Arifin, M.Hum., highlighted the challenges that university graduates face in today’s rapidly evolving digital era.
“Our way of thinking has entered the era of the digital mindset. Artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), and robotics have become part of the competition we face every day,” he said.
He emphasized that graduates must develop three essential competencies to remain competitive in the future.
“There are three crucial literacies every graduate should master: public speaking, digital literacy, and English proficiency. With these three competencies, we will be better prepared to navigate the future successfully,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Dean of FISIP UMSU, Dr. Arifin Saleh, M.SP., announced the recipients of the faculty’s Master’s Scholarship Awards. The top graduates were Olvi Salsabila Siregar from the Social Welfare program with a GPA of 3.83, Risanda Tri Oktina from Public Administration with a GPA of 3.90, and Riska Putri Nasution from Communication Science with an outstanding GPA of 3.96.
“As a special recognition, our three best graduates will receive full tuition scholarships to continue their studies in the Master of Communication Science program at UMSU,” Dr. Arifin Saleh announced.
In addition to these scholarships, the faculty also offered a 50 percent tuition scholarship to 40 other graduates who wish to pursue postgraduate studies at UMSU.
Beyond recognizing the top graduates, FISIP UMSU also honored 95 outstanding students for their achievements in academics, student organizations, arts, sports, and research. According to the Dean, these accomplishments demonstrate that graduates of the social sciences are capable of competing successfully at both the national and international levels.
He encouraged the graduates to become resilient individuals who are ready to make meaningful contributions in the professional world.
“Rise, move forward, seize every opportunity, overcome every challenge, and make a positive impact on your family, your community, your nation, and your country,” he urged.
The ceremony became especially emotional when Olvi Salsabila Siregar, speaking on behalf of the top graduates, reflected on her academic journey.
“This achievement is not the result of my efforts alone. It is the outcome of countless prayers from those who believed in me and the helping hands that supported me along the way.”
Meanwhile, Riska Putri Nasution, who delivered her message via video while attending professional training at Telkomsel, described her achievement as evidence of the quality and competitiveness of FISIP graduates.
“This is concrete proof that FISIP UMSU graduates are highly competitive and readily accepted into the workforce,” she said.
The ceremony was attended by the Chairman of the UMSU Board of Trustees (BPH), Prof. Dr. Agussani, M.AP., the Vice Deans of FISIP, heads of study programs, faculty members, and all graduation confirmation ceremony participants.
