Vice-Rector III

Hasmonel, S.H., M.Hum.

 "Having a career in UT is a Blessing"

Beginning his career as a member of the Editorial Board of the “Sriwijaya Post”, Palembang, since the end of 1986 up to mid 1987, Hasmonel, S.H., M.Hum., then applied for the post of Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, the University of Bengkulu (UNIB). When he reported to the Head of the Civil Servant Job Application Committee, the committee announced that Universitas Terbuka (UT) was also looking for lecturers through their Distance Learning Program Unit (UPBJJ) in Bengkulu.

After acquitting sufficient information on UT, he decided to cancel his application for the post of Lecturer at UNIB, and sent his application instead to UT. Thus he began his career in UT in 1987 as a lecturer at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences - UT (FISIP-UT), assigned to the UPBJJT-UT in Bengkulu. His career as a lecturer was greatly enhanced by the past conducive atmosphere at UNIB which gave him ample opportunities to be involved in the various activities connected to the Three Roles of Universities. This gave him a strong academic foundation and within a short time, he was entrusted with the position of Coordinator of Registration and Testing.

After completing his Masters Program, in March of 1998, he moved to the UT Head Office in Pondok Cabe, Tangerang, his main duty to design learning materials (modules) and enhance his experience in the field of research. Grace to the help of his colleagues at FISIP-UT, he was able to fulfill his ambition to write modules in 2000 which he completed by 2001. Since working at the UT Head Office, his career began with additional tasks as the Head of the Diploma 3 Study Program of Taxation from 1990-2001, and Assistant Vice-Rector IV from 2001-2003. His career kept climbing until, eventually, on July 7, 2003, this man who was born in Pagar Alam on July 11, 1961, was entrusted with the position/additional duty of Vice-Rector III on Student and Operational Affairs of the UT during a term of office from 2003-2007. As a lecturer who felt that he had a lot to catch up with and still needed much improvement, he never thought that he would one day hold that very auspicious office.

When he moved from the UPBJJ-UT in Bengkulu to the UT Head Office, at first this simple man thought that it would be an impossible feat to achieve. Even more so since his degree was in Law, a faculty that UT doesn’t have, and his last rank was Junior Lector which would have meant that he had 4 more levels to go before he could become Senior/Head Lector, a functional position required before rising to the position of Vice-Rector. His other shortcomings were his very rudimentary mastery of English, the fact that at time he had not many friends, and that he was not yet known to the top officials, all of which now convinces him that what he has achieved is truly a benevolence from the One and Only God. He was blessed again when he was once more entrusted with the position of Vice-Rector III of UT for a second term from 2007 till 2011. Since he began his career in UT, he has focused his attention on Agricultural Politics and Law, aside from being on the Editorial Board of the Study Indonesia Journal, and Director of Komunika Magazine published by UT, he is also actively involved in his Mosque’s organization and as Head of the Village Unit at the Vila Inti Persada Housing Complex, in Pamulang, and was once a member of the Tangerang Regency Education Council Legal Commission.

The childhood years of this eldest child of eight of Mr. H. Akhmad Alinanafiah S. and Mrs. Hj. Saunah, both from South Sumatera, were spent in several towns. His parent’s work took them from town to town and he was forced to change schools several times. In 1986, he succeeded in acquiring his Bachelor Degree in Civil Law, at the Faculty of Law of the Sriwijaya University (UNSRI), Palembang. In 1992, he sent in an application and was accepted for the Graduate Program at the University of Padjadjaran, but had to cancel those plans because he did not obtain permission from UT Head Office. In 1994, after obtaining permission from the UT Head Office, he tried to apply for the Post-Graduate Program at the University of North Sumatera (USU), majoring in Agrarian Legal Sciences, and finally in 1996, this man who likes to eat empek-empek and gado-gado, became the first lecturer in the UPBJJ-UT to succeed in completing his Magister Program. During the time of his studies at UNSRI, Palembang, he was actively involved in numerous student, senate, nature lovers, youth group and vocal group activities. It was when he was in this vocal group that he met his other half, Widarti ( Ichi), born in Lahat, on November 13, 1963 whom he legally married in October 1987. This marriage blessed them with lovely children, Sendy Monarchi (19), a semester 3 student at the IPB (Bogor Institute of Agriculture), Hersen Monarchi (16), a senior in High School, and Hanny Putri Monarchi (11), at present in 6th grade in Elementary School. When asked for his comment on UT, this lover of tennis said that he is proud to be part of the teaching staff of UT. He says that UT is unique in the sense of the noble duty and a grand vision it carries, which is to improve the quality of teachers from all over Indonesia and graduates of High Schools who, for one reason or another, are not able to continue their studies in face-to-face universities. One day, the world will take note of UT significant role in improving the quality of human resources and of education in Indonesia. He added that with Indonesia’s increasing self-independence, in time, UT will become the most sought after Distance Learning University, just as people are now vying for a place in prominent face-to-face universities. One characteristic of intelligent and competitive human beings is having a high level of learning independence, and UT is the right place for that.

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