The tendering of the Agreement for the Contract of Research and Community Services of Universitas Terbuka (UT) for the Budgetary Year 2023 was ceremoniously held at UTCC on February 20, 2023, under the theme of ‘Improving the Quality of UT Research, Publication, and Roles in Community Empowerment.’ The Institute of Research and Community Services of Universitas Terbuka (LPPM-UT) organized the event. Additionally, there was a signing of the Letter of Undertaking as a Partner in the National Community Services Program ‘Fostered Village or Desa Binaan,’ as well as recognition for the highest Sinta Score and Intellectual Property Right (IPR) for a Computer Program Application extensively used in UT.
The research and community service activities at Universitas Terbuka are regularly held each year. Every lecturer at the university is required to engage in research and community service, either as a leader or as a member of a research team. To measure the accomplishments of UT’s research endeavors, a number of key performance indicators have been established, including the number of lecturers conducting research and the publication of research results in internationally reputable scientific journals and nationally accredited journals.
In order to achieve the target for the number of research and community service activities, UT provides internal funding to its lecturers and education staff members each year. In 2022, UT allocated research funds amounting to IDR 37.3 billion; for 2023, the allocated amount is IDR 44 billion. This substantial funding amount categorizes UT as one of the universities with the largest internal funds in the country. UT is committed to nurturing the potential of its lecturers and education staff members through research activities that promote innovative and applicable science.
The research proposals funded by UT in 2023 include 518 titles or proposals, consisting of 348 Scientific Research Proposals and 170 Research and Innovation of Distance Education Proposals, including research projects under national and international collaboration schemes. UT also funds 213 Community Services Proposals and 40 proposals for national community service activities in ‘Fostered Villages or Desa Binaan.’ Therefore, the event was attended by the chiefs of five villages, namely:
- Chief of Village Tonjong
- Chief of Village Wates Jaya/Kp Ciwaluh
- Chief of Village Situ Udik, District Cibungbulang
- Chief of Village Tegal
- Chief of Village Muara Teluknaga, Tangerang Banten
UT also encourages its lecturers to engage in collaborative research with partner universities and institutions, both local and international. Currently, UT is involved in collaborative research with OU5 (the association of researchers from members of the Asian Association of Open Universities/AAOU), Open Project Erasmus, and the ICE Institute, among others. These collaborations aim to expand the network of collaborative research and foster knowledge exchange with relevant institutions. As UT has become a Higher Education Institution as an Incorporated Legal Entity (PTN BH), it has been invited to join the Indonesian Collaborative Research initiated by the Institute of Research and Community Services, which consists of 21 PTNBH. UT aims to learn from and strengthen its research capabilities alongside other PTNBHs through this collaboration.
In implementing community service activities, UT lecturers are expected to personally visit and serve communities in order to apply their knowledge of science and technology to accelerate the growth rate and achieve national development goals. According to the 2022 Report by the Institute of Research and Community Services Head, UT allocated IDR 3.4 billion for community service activities in 2022 and IDR 5.1 billion for 2023. The substantial amount of funding reflects UT’s commitment to serving communities.
In 2023, the Institute of Research and Community Services (LPPM) and faculties at UT will focus on national community service activities through the ‘Fostered Village Program’ or ‘Program Desa Binaan’ in a selected number of villages chosen by UT’s Headquarter (Jabodetabek) and UT offices in local regions. UT has set aside a total of IDR 2 billion for the Fostered Village Program, signifying a significant funding allocation. Hopefully, this program will benefit the fostered villages across various regions in Indonesia. On this occasion, UT invited the chiefs of the five villages to sign the Letter of Undertaking as Partners in the National Community Service Program titled ‘Fostered Village or Desa Binaan.’ We hope that the National Community Service activities in the Fostered Village Program will benefit villages in various regions of Indonesia.
During the event, UT also presented tokens of appreciation to lecturers and teaching staff members who have shown outstanding achievements in publications and intellectual property rights that contribute to UT’s learning process and management. The recipients of the recognition include:
- Sinta score: Dr. Ernik Yuliana, S.Pt., M.T.
- IPR (Application Program Computer): Agung Wicaksono, S.Kom.; Muhammad Dzakiy, S.Kom.; Antares Firman SE., M.Ptof. Acc.; Adrian Sutawijaya, SE., M.Si.; Dimas Agung Prasetyo, S.Kom., M.Sc.; Deni Rudiana Aprizal, S.Kom.
Through this acknowledgment, UT aims to motivate and inspire its lecturers and teaching staff personnel to continue making publications and creating innovative products that benefit UT and the wider public.
