South Tangerang, August 7, 2025 – Universitas Terbuka (UT) once again demonstrated its commitment to producing high-quality human resources by holding a doctoral dissertation defense for its Management Science Study Program. This defense serves as the final examination for doctoral students to defend their dissertation before a board of examiners.
This open defense was for a student named Nurlaila with student ID number 530076247 from UT Ternate. Nurlaila, a lecturer and Head of the Center for Women’s Studies at Universitas Khairun (Unkhair), presented her dissertation titled “The Role of Islamic Work Ethics (IWE) as a Mediator in Enhancing Organizational Commitment at Sharia Banks in North Maluku Province.” Her research highlights the importance of Islamic work ethics as a factor that can increase employee commitment in sharia banking, particularly in the North Maluku region.
The defense was attended by UT’s leadership, including the Vice Rector II, Heads of Institutes, and Vice Directors of the Postgraduate School. The event was also graced by the presence of regional leaders, including the Vice Mayor of Depok and the Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business at Universitas Khairun (Unkhair) Ternate. The defense was held in the Cemara Room on the 2nd Floor of the Multipurpose Building (GSG) at Universitas Terbuka, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM WIB.
The examining committee for Nurlaila’s open defense consisted of experts in their fields: Prof. Dr. Maman Rumanta, M.Si., Director of the Postgraduate School, as the Commission Chair; Prof. Dr. Suliyanto, S.E., M.M., as External Examiner 1; Dr. Ake Wihadanto, S.E., M.T., as External Examiner 2; Prof. Dr.Hj. Sri Langgeng Ratnasari. SE., MM., as the Head Promoter; Dr. Meirani Harsasi. SE., M.Si., as Co-Promoter 1; Dr. Zulkifli Sultan. SE., MM., as Co-Promoter 2; and Dr. Julia Safitri, S.T., M.M., as Secretary.
According to Martino Wibowo, Ph.D., Head of the Management Science Doctoral Program at UT’s Postgraduate School (SPS), “Nurlaila’s graduation from this defense is a crucial aspect in maintaining the ‘Excellent’ accreditation status of the Management Science Doctoral program. It also reflects UT’s success in producing doctoral graduates who are academically and practically valuable.”
As part of its contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this defense reflects the implementation of SDG 4 (Quality Education) in the form of developing research-based doctoral education. Nurlaila’s dissertation is also relevant to SDG 5 (Gender Equality) through the role of women in strategic research, and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by highlighting the improvement of ethics and organizational commitment in the sharia finance sector. This also shows UT’s role in strengthening the capacity of local and national institutions through contextual research that has a direct impact on the community.
With its core values of inclusivity, flexibility, and quality, UT continues to encourage students and lecturers to use knowledge as a tool for social, economic, and cultural transformation. This defense moment reaffirms UT’s determination as a Digital, Inclusive, and Impactful Campus that consistently fosters academic innovations from students that are beneficial for the development of knowledge and strategic policies of the companies being researched. By holding this defense, Universitas Terbuka continues to strive to produce doctoral graduates who can make real contributions to the development of science and society.
