Medan, 22 October 2026 – Another remarkable achievement has been made by the academic community of the Faculty of Vocational Education, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU). Muhammad Bangun Siregar, S.E., M.Si., a lecturer in the Applied Bachelor's Degree in Digital Office Administration, received the Best Paper Award at the International Conference on Vocational Business, Logistics, Accounting, Supply Chain, and Tax (ICoBLAST 2026), held on 22–23 October 2026 at Aruss Hotel, Semarang.

The award was presented for a scientific paper entitled “Beyond Digital Skills: How Leadership and Self-Efficacy Build a Resilient Digital Workforce,” co-authored with Yudha Yustiasa, Naomi Karina Hutagalung, and Rahdini Rizki Saragih.

The research highlights the importance of leadership and self-efficacy in building a resilient and adaptive workforce in the digital era. This topic is closely related to the field of Digital Office Administration, particularly in developing human resource competencies, leadership, and the ability to adapt to technological transformation in modern workplaces.

The 2026 ICoBLAST international conference served as an academic forum for researchers, academics, and practitioners to exchange ideas, research findings, and innovations in business, logistics, accounting, supply chains, and taxation. The event also provided a platform for strengthening academic collaboration and encouraging research contributions to sustainable development.

This achievement is a source of pride for both the Applied Bachelor's Degree in Digital Office Administration and the USU Faculty of Vocational Education in their efforts to improve the quality of research and scientific publications at the international level. It also reflects the lecturers' contributions to advancing knowledge relevant to the needs of industry and digital transformation.

The Faculty of Vocational Education, Universitas Sumatera Utara, extends its appreciation and congratulations to Muhammad Bangun Siregar, S.E., M.Si., and his co-authors on this achievement. It is hoped that this accomplishment will inspire all lecturers and students to continue producing innovative, high-quality scientific works that benefit society.

This achievement further strengthens the USU Faculty of Vocational Education's commitment to fostering a research culture, enhancing its academic reputation, and generating tangible contributions through education and research oriented toward workforce needs and global technological developments.