During the session, Bank Indonesia presented its plans for collaboration through research assistance programs aimed at the USU academic community, including faculty members and students. Additionally, they explored the possibility of organizing various academic and non-academic competitions to foster intellectual spirit and innovation among students. These programs are expected to serve as platforms for personal development and increase student engagement in national economic issues, especially those related to Bank Indonesia's duties and functions.
However, Bank Indonesia also announced that the scholarship program for 2025 has been temporarily postponed. This delay is due to new internal policy adjustments regarding institutional budget allocations despite the actual availability of funds. "Unfortunately, this year's scholarship program has to be postponed indefinitely due to adjustments related to a new policy currently in effect," said a Bank Indonesia representative.
As a precaution, Bank Indonesia advised USU students to actively pursue scholarship opportunities from other institutions and not wait for clarity regarding this program. Further outreach and dissemination activities are also planned to ensure students receive clear and equitable information about the policy.
Prof. Poppy welcomed the initiatives proposed by Bank Indonesia, particularly those focused on strengthening the academic capacity of USU students and faculty. She expressed hope that the collaboration could soon be realized through concrete programs. "We are very open to collaborations involving competitions and research that can directly contribute to developing the capacity of our academic community," she said.
This activity reflects the ongoing commitment between Universitas Sumatera Utara and Bank Indonesia to collaborate in higher education, research, and community service, particularly in shaping an excellent generation ready to contribute to national economic development.