Medan, 24 June 2026 – The Faculty of Vocational Education, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), conducted interviews for the Principal Investigators of the 2026 Pioneer Research Proposal on Thursday (25/6). The interviews took place in the Dean's Office and the Office of the Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Cooperation, and Internationalization of the Faculty of Vocational Education USU as part of the selection and evaluation process for research proposals submitted by faculty members within the Faculty of Vocational Education.
In 2026, a total of 24 research proposals were submitted by lecturers from various study programs within the Faculty of Vocational Education USU. The participating study programs included the Diploma Program in Finance/Applied Bachelor's Degree Program in Banking and Finance, the Diploma Program in Secretarial Studies/Applied Bachelor's Degree Program in Digital Office Administration, the Diploma Program in Metrology and Instrumentation, the Diploma Program in Physics/Applied Bachelor's Degree Program in Instrumentation Engineering Technology, the Diploma Program in Informatics Engineering, the Diploma Program in Chemistry/Applied Bachelor's Degree Program in Applied Chemistry, the Diploma Program in Statistics/Applied Bachelor's Degree Program in Statistics, the Diploma Program in Food and Pharmaceutical Analyst, the Diploma Program in Tax Administration, the Diploma Program in Japanese Language, the Diploma Program in English Language, and the Diploma Program in Travel and Tourism/Applied Bachelor's Degree Program in Tourism Business Management.
The interviews were conducted by two interviewers, Prof. Dr. Isfenti Sadalia, S.E., M.E., and Junedi Ginting, S.Si., M.Si. During the interviews, the principal investigators presented their proposed research plans, including the research urgency, novelty, methodology, expected outputs, and the contribution of the research to the advancement of knowledge and the resolution of various societal issues.
The implementation of the Pioneer Research Proposal interviews reflects the Faculty of Vocational Education USU's commitment to fostering a strong academic culture and encouraging increased research productivity among its faculty members. In addition to serving as a selection stage, the activity is expected to produce high-quality research that supports the advancement of vocational education, innovation, and the strengthening of higher education's role in making meaningful contributions to society and sustainable development.
