Medan, September 2026 — The Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Sumatera Utara (FEB USU), has once again demonstrated its commitment to supporting resilient and sustainable village development through the 2026 Indonesia Collaboration Community Service Program (PMKI) of 24 PTNBH. The program carries the theme “Strengthening the Capacity of Village Apparatus in Disaster Mitigation, Adaptation, and Preparedness through DAS Risk-Based Public Asset Management in Langkat Regency” and is being implemented in a hybrid format, with the main activities centered at the Simpang Kutabuluh Village Hall, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra.
The activity was carried out in response to the high threat of hydrometeorological disasters in Langkat Regency, particularly in the downstream area of the Batang Serangan Watershed (DAS). Floods, river overflows, inundation, landslides, and strong winds have the potential to disrupt various village public facilities and basic public services. This condition demonstrates the importance of village asset management that is oriented not only toward administrative and economic aspects but also considers disaster risks from the planning stage.
The initial stage of the activity focused on socialization and a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) involving village heads, village secretaries, heads of affairs, and hamlet heads. Village officials were provided with an understanding of risk-based public asset management by considering aspects of exposure, vulnerability, and impact, as well as being introduced to various disaster threats and the protection of critical assets. The activity continued with the completion of an asset inventory worksheet, through which the team and village officials successfully identified the initial profiles of 14 vital public assets, including their physical conditions, inundation history, and potential disaster threats. The data subsequently served as the basis for GPS coordinate surveys and digital mapping using Geographic Information Systems (GIS/QGIS).
The program was carried out by a multidisciplinary team involving partner universities. The team was led by Dr. Lasma Melinda Siahaan, S.E., M.Si. from FEB USU, together with Prof. Dr. Elisabet Siahaan, S.E., M.Ec. from FEB USU, Yasir Riady, S.S., M.Hum. from Universitas Terbuka, and Prof. Ir. Taufika Ophiyandri, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D. from Universitas Andalas. The activity also involved FEB USU students at the doctoral, master’s, and undergraduate levels, namely Sri Annisa, Nelvi Nurul Huda, and Keisha Enya Br. Siahaan. This cross-disciplinary collaboration combines expertise in asset management, property valuation, public governance, and civil engineering for disaster management.
The initial results of the activity provided tangible benefits for the Simpang Kutabuluh Village Government in improving the capacity of village officials to identify, classify, and determine priorities for asset protection based on their level of risk. Several assets of concern include Simpang Kutabuluh Public Elementary School, the clean water facility in Hamlet IV Guru Benua, the Village Auxiliary Health Center (Pustu), and the Sei Bertu Agricultural Road. The inventory results are expected to serve as a basis for strengthening village development planning, including the preparation of the RPJMDes and RKPDes, while also supporting environmental resilience and sustainable village development.
The implementation of this program also contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In terms of SDG 1 (No Poverty), the protection of public assets and village economic infrastructure can reduce the risk of losses and disruption to community livelihoods caused by disasters. SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) is supported through efforts to maintain access to agricultural roads and facilitate the distribution of community agricultural production. Meanwhile, SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) is realized through the protection of healthcare facilities and clean water infrastructure to ensure that they remain functional during emergencies.
The program also supports SDG 4 (Quality Education) by addressing the safety and resilience of educational facilities, particularly Simpang Kutabuluh Public Elementary School, which was identified as being at risk from several disaster threats. Furthermore, SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) serves as the main foundation through collaboration between USU as the host university, Universitas Terbuka and Universitas Andalas as partners, support from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemendiktisaintek) and the Association of PTNBH LPPM, as well as the Simpang Kutabuluh Village Government.
The initial stage of this program serves as an important foundation for developing more resilient and risk-based village asset governance. The FEB USU community service team, together with partner universities, will continue the activities through spatial surveys, GIS-based asset risk mapping, and the development of contingency action guidelines. Through a collaborative and knowledge-based approach, this program is expected to serve as a model for risk-based public asset management that can be replicated in other villages across Indonesia.