LAMPUNG BARAT — Going to college does not always require someone to leave their hometown. In Way Tenong, Lampung Barat, opportunities to pursue higher education are becoming increasingly accessible to the community. This was evident when Lampung Barat Regent Parosil Mabsus attended the Distance Learning Skills Training (PKBJJ) for new students of Universitas Terbuka (UT) at the AAF Way Tenong UT Service Center (SALUT).
Parosil’s presence was not merely a form of support for the new students. On the occasion, he also symbolically presented scholarships to community representatives. The support is part of the Government of Kabupaten Lampung Barat’s efforts to expand public access to higher education while improving the quality of human resources in the region.
The move is particularly significant because the Government of Kabupaten Lampung Barat has once again entrusted its scholarship program to UT. The university, which operates a distance learning system, is considered a strategic partner in opening up educational opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds, including those who need flexibility in accessing higher education.
However, opening the door to education alone is not enough. Students also need to be equipped with the skills to successfully navigate their studies. Therefore, the scholarship presentation was accompanied by the implementation of PKBJJ, which aims to equip new students with learning skills for UT’s distance education system.
Through PKBJJ, students gain an understanding of independent learning skills, the use of information technology, and the distance learning system. This orientation serves as an initial step to help students understand how to manage their learning process, make effective use of technology, and participate in their studies optimally.
This is where scholarship support and student orientation complement each other. Scholarships provide opportunities to continue education, while PKBJJ provides students with the preparation they need to make the most of those opportunities until they complete their studies according to their targets.
The commitment received appreciation from Lampung Barat Regent Parosil Mabsus. According to him, the local government has a responsibility to continuously promote educational advancement because education is an investment whose benefits will be felt by the community over the long term.
“The regional government is fully committed to supporting educational advancement. The provision of these scholarships is a form of long-term investment in the people of Lampung Barat,” Parosil said.
Furthermore, Parosil said that the Government of Kabupaten Lampung Barat entrusted its scholarship program to UT because its learning system has been proven effective and is capable of reaching various segments of society. UT’s flexible distance learning system enables people to pursue higher education without being constrained by distance or their place of residence.
The trust also demonstrates that higher education can be brought closer to the community. Through UT and its SALUT services, students not only gain access to higher education but also receive support services that help them pursue their studies in their respective regions.
Ultimately, scholarship support and training through PKBJJ are expected to enable students to pursue their education optimally until graduation. More than that, graduates are expected to use the competencies they gain during their studies to make a tangible contribution to the development and advancement of Lampung Barat Regency.
The spirit of expanding learning opportunities is also in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 on Quality Education, particularly in promoting inclusive, equitable, and more widely accessible education.
The activity at SALUT AAF Way Tenong also illustrates that access to quality education does not have to be concentrated in major cities. With support from the regional government and UT’s distance learning system, people in various regions have equal opportunities to continue learning, improve their competencies, and prepare for the future.
The activity was attended by UT Regional leadership, the management of SALUT AAF Way Tenong, Government of Kabupaten Lampung Barat officials, parents, and UT students. From Way Tenong, this small step toward the classroom once again affirmed one thing: distance may be great, but the opportunity to receive a quality education should never be out of reach.
