21 May 2026
Anita Kartika Pasaribu
On Thursday, May 21, 2026, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), organized an Educational and Parenting Forum in collaboration with Al-Azhar Asy-Syarif Islamic Boarding School Medan. The forum carried the theme, “Educating the Digital Generation in an Instant Era: Challenges and Solutions for Modern Parenting.” The event was held at the Multipurpose Hall of FIB USU.
The forum was attended by the Dean of FIB USU, Mhd. Pujiono, S.S., M.Hum., Ph.D., representatives of Al-Azhar Asy-Syarif Islamic Boarding School Medan, and members of the Dharma Wanita Persatuan (DWP) of FIB USU. Serving as both a networking platform and a discussion forum, the event explored various challenges and strategies in educating young generations amidst the rapid advancement of digital technology.
This activity provided a collaborative platform for higher education institutions and secondary educational institutions to discuss the challenges faced by parents and educators in guiding young people in the digital era. Participants included the leadership of FIB USU, representatives of Al-Azhar Asy-Syarif Islamic Boarding School Medan, teachers, parents, lecturers, students, and other invited guests.
The event was officially opened by the Dean of FIB USU, Mhd. Pujiono, S.S., M.Hum., Ph.D. In his opening remarks, he emphasized that digital technology has significantly transformed the ways young people communicate, learn, and interact socially. Therefore, strong synergy among families, schools, and universities is essential to create an educational environment that fosters character development, ethical values, and digital literacy among children and adolescents.
The forum featured speakers from academic and educational practitioner backgrounds who discussed various issues related to parenting in the digital age. Topics included the use of social media, the impact of technology on children's psychological and social development, and strategies for building effective communication between parents and children amidst the overwhelming flow of digital information.
Through the theme, “Educating the Digital Generation in an Instant Era: Challenges and Solutions for Modern Parenting,” participants were encouraged to understand that technological advancement brings not only opportunities but also challenges that require proper guidance and supervision. Parents and educators are expected to act as facilitators, mentors, and role models in promoting responsible and ethical technology use.
In addition to the presentation sessions, the event included interactive discussions and a question-and-answer session, providing participants with opportunities to share experiences, perspectives, and solutions related to the challenges of educating today’s digital generation. Participants demonstrated great enthusiasm, as reflected in the active and constructive discussions throughout the forum.
The organization of this forum reflects the commitment of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara, to strengthening character education, digital literacy, and the development of high-quality and competitive human resources. It also represents a concrete effort to strengthen partnerships between higher education institutions and schools in addressing future educational challenges.
Through this Educational and Parenting Forum, it is expected that closer collaboration will be established between FIB USU and Al-Azhar Asy-Syarif Islamic Boarding School Medan in developing educational programs that are relevant to societal needs and capable of supporting the creation of intelligent, well-rounded, and future-ready generations.
The event concluded with the presentation of souvenirs, a group photo session, and a shared commitment to continuing collaboration in improving the quality of education and parenting practices for young generations in the digital era.
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