North Sumatra Deputy Governor addresses UMSU new students

North Sumatra Deputy Governor Surya addressed 6,027 new students during the opening of the 2026 Masa Ta’aruf Kolosal at Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU) in Medan.

Surya advised students not to pursue higher education solely for academic degrees or grades. He emphasized that students should use their time on campus to build social awareness, responsibility, achievements, and leadership skills. He noted that while diplomas are important, the professional world and society will ultimately test how knowledge is applied in practice.

To develop these character traits, Surya encouraged participation in student organizations, specifically mentioning the Ikatan Mahasiswa Muhammadiyah (IMM) as a platform for strengthening Islamic values and community service. UMSU Rector Akrim also expressed high hopes for the incoming student cohort.