YAGASU Welcomes Aquatic Management Resources’s Students (University Of North Sumatra) : Academic Synergy and Real Action for Coastal Conservation
Medan, September 8, 2026 — Reflecting over a quarter-century of commitment to environmental conservation, Yayasan Gajah Sumatera (YAGASU) officially welcomes students from the Aquatic Resource Management (MSP) Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU). The presence of these students in the Out-of-Campus Study Program (PLSPS) brings fresh energy to the mangrove rehabilitation, coastal ecosystem protection, and community empowerment efforts that have long been the foundation of YAGASU’s work.
YAGASU Director, Anton Syahputra Siregar, M.Si., emphasized that collaborating with higher education institutions is a strategic step to strengthen the scientific basis of every conservation program in the field.
“YAGASU is committed to continuously building and expanding our partnership with Universitas Sumatera Utara. Students bring academic perspectives and innovative ideas that are highly needed in the field, while we provide an integrated natural laboratory so they can gain practical experience not found in classrooms,” Anton stated.
A Natural Laboratory for Future Ecosystem Guardians
For YAGASU, hosting PLSPS students is not merely an academic formality, but a space for knowledge transfer between field practitioners and future environmental experts. During the program, students are deployed directly to coastal working areas. They are encouraged to analyze ecological conditions, compile coastal environmental databases, and interact with local communities to formulate solutions that balance ecology with the economic resilience of the residents.
The directive from the Head of the USU MSP Study Program, Dr. Ahmad Muhtadi, S.Pi., M.Si., which emphasized the importance of ethics, discipline, and cross-disciplinary collaboration, perfectly aligns with YAGASU’s operational values. An integrated approach is absolutely necessary to ensure every environmental intervention has a measurable, long-term impact.
Accelerating the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This strategic partnership between YAGASU and academics is a concrete step to accelerate the achievement of global SDG’s targets:
- SDG 4 (Quality Education): Providing practical learning spaces and capacity building for students.
- SDG 13 & 14 (Climate Action & Life Below Water): Involving students in direct climate mitigation practices through the protection, maintenance, and rehabilitation of mangrove ecosystems.
- SDG 15 (Life on Land): Promoting the preservation of biodiversity living in land-to-sea transitional areas.
- SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): Expanding strategic networks among NGOs, universities, and the wider community.
This synergy is expected to become a strong foundation for developing further collaborative programs. Moving forward, this collaboration can be expanded into joint research, the integration of digital-based environmental information systems, and broader public education campaigns. The students developing alongside YAGASU today are being prepared to become the main driving force for nature conservation and coastal welfare in the future.
