Universitas Terbuka (UT) held a Christmas celebration and the welcoming of the new year of 2025 on Friday, 10 January 2025, at the Multi-Purpose Building of UT Head office and through a Zoom Meeting. With the theme “Let Us Now Go to Bethlehem”, from Lukas 2:15 with the subtheme “Serving with Heart and Building Achievements to Make UT The Leading PTNBH with World Class Qualities”. This event invites every academic who celebrates as a way of strengthening their faith and serving with their hearts, by building achievements for UT’s development. 

This celebration is attended by Priest Dr. Zakarias Manambe, M.Pd.K., M.Th., M.H., M.Mis., Romo Petrus Cipto Nugroho, SCJ. This event is also attended by UT Rector, Prof. Ojat Darojat, M.Bus., Ph.D, Vice Rectors, Deans, Head of LPPM, and celebraring staffs and pensioners of UT. Showcases by UT Students, UT Region Staffs, and children of UT Staffs kept the atmosphere positive. 

The series of events began with a report by the head of the Christmas celebration committee, Editha Natalina Nababan, S. T. M.Ak. who expressed her appreciation and gratitude for the attendance and support for this event. She said that the meaning of her theme is that we have to be udrful for the public, no matter where. She also expressed her thanks to the staff for their hard work. 

The event was continued by the speech by Vice Rector of Research, Innovation, Partnership and Business, Rahmat Budiman, M.Hum., Ph.D., who expressed that it’s his honor to take part in the Christmas and new year celebration. He stated that this is a precious moment of expressing love and tolerance under the slogan of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika. 

He also stated that in the 4 decades of existence, UT is decorated with a bunch of achievements. These achievements are due to the support of every academic of UT for the hard work and the promotion of tolerance in ethnicity, race, and religion. He added that the subtheme of this celebration gives its own mark. The meaning of the verse is implemented by UT academics throughout everyday life, making UT their second home for career, experience, and education. At the end of his remark, representing the rector, the Vice Rector 4 wishes a happy Christmas and new year for students, pensioners, and family of UT.  

This celebration went peacefully and full of joy. Presents were also given to the children who attended. This event was closed with lunch. 

The Christmas celebration of UT can be a moment of spiritual reflection, while giving motivation and inspiration for academics to keep serving with sincerity. Let us make UT the distance university with leading world class qualities, bringing benefits to the people and nation.