Medan, September 17, 2026 — The English Education Study Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP), Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU), continues to contribute to the development of young leaders through academic and professional engagement. Selamat Husni Hasibuan, Ph.D., Secretary of the English Education Study Program, FKIP UMSU, served as one of the speakers in the Technical Guidance Program on Character Strengthening for Vocational High School (SMK) Students, organized by the Education Office of North Sumatra Province. The official invitation appointed Selamat Husni Hasibuan, Ph.D. to provide training, knowledge, and experience to the participants.
The four-day program was held from September 15 to 18, 2026, at Le Polonia Hotel, Medan, and was attended by Student Council (OSIS) Leaders from Vocational High Schools in North Sumatra. The program was designed as a character-strengthening and leadership development activity for young student leaders, with sessions addressing leadership, mental resilience, communication, collaboration, work ethics, anti-bullying, and organizational development.
On Thursday, September 17, 2026, Selamat Husni Hasibuan, Ph.D. delivered Session 5, “Strategic Communication for Young Leaders,” from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The session focused on three essential competencies for young organizational leaders: negotiation techniques, public speaking, and conflict resolution.
The session emphasized the importance of strategic communication in leadership, particularly when young leaders need to express ideas, negotiate different interests, manage disagreements, and communicate effectively with members of their organizations. Rather than treating communication merely as the ability to speak, the session positioned communication as an essential leadership competence for building understanding and reaching constructive solutions.
The theoretical session was followed by a practical learning activity from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. through a simulation of an organizational conflict-resolution hearing and public-speaking challenges. Through the simulation, participants were given an opportunity to practice leadership communication in a situation that required them to respond to different perspectives, negotiate with others, manage organizational conflict, and work toward a shared resolution.
The practical approach was intended to provide participants with an opportunity to move beyond conceptual understanding and experience the challenges of leadership communication directly. As student leaders, they were encouraged to develop the ability to listen, articulate their positions, manage differences, and make decisions while maintaining collaboration within an organization.
The involvement of the Secretary of the English Education Study Program in the program reflects the contribution of UMSU academics to broader educational and leadership development initiatives in North Sumatra. It also demonstrates how expertise in language education and communication can contribute to the development of students’ leadership competencies beyond the classroom.
Through this activity, the English Education Study Program FKIP UMSU reaffirms its commitment to supporting the development of young people who are capable of communicating effectively, working collaboratively, managing differences constructively, and taking responsible leadership roles in their schools and communities.
