For many residents of Tarumajaya, pursuing higher education often remains only an intention—held back by distance, time constraints, and financial limitations. Responding to these challenges, Universitas Terbuka (UT) inaugurated the Tarumajaya Universitas Terbuka Service Center (SALUT) on Monday (26 January 2026), as part of its effort to provide more accessible, inclusive, and affordable higher education for the community.
Located at Harapan Mulya Regency Shop Houses, Setiamulya Village, Tarumajaya Subdistrict, Bekasi Regency, the inauguration was held in a simple yet meaningful atmosphere. Despite ongoing flooding in parts of the area, the event proceeded solemnly, symbolizing UT’s commitment to ensuring that education continues even in the face of difficult conditions.
Head of SALUT Tarumajaya, M. Yusuf, S.Pd., MM, expressed gratitude for the successful launch, noting that SALUT is expected to serve as a bridge for communities previously constrained by geographic, time, and cost barriers. Beyond administrative services, SALUT functions as a hub for information, academic consultation, and student assistance for both prospective and current UT students.
UT Jakarta Director Ir. Edward Zubir, MM, emphasized that the establishment of SALUT Tarumajaya reflects UT’s mission to expand flexible, open higher education services. UT aims to ensure equal access to quality education for all, regardless of social background, age, or economic status, with local service centers playing a key role in bringing distance learning closer to communities.
Support from the Bekasi Regency Government was also evident. Head of the Bekasi Education Office, Asep Pramana, S.Pd., welcomed the initiative and expressed hope that SALUT Tarumajaya would help increase higher education participation in the region through strong collaboration between local government and higher education institutions.
The strong public interest during the event highlighted SALUT’s significance—not merely as a new facility, but as a gateway to better opportunities. Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4 on quality and inclusive education, SALUT Tarumajaya underscores Universitas Terbuka’s commitment to ensuring that higher education is a right accessible to all, without barriers.
