MATARAM — The first day as a university student is usually filled with campus introductions, an overview of the lecture system, and information about various academic services. However, 520 new students of Universitas Terbuka (UT) Mataram had a slightly different experience. They not only went home with new knowledge about higher education, but also carried home a tree seedling to plant.
The moment took place as part of the 2026/2027 first-semester New Student Study Orientation (OSMB) at UT Mataram, held at Narmada Convention Hall, Hotel Sapadia, Mataram, on Saturday (August 15, 2026).
The activity, which was part of the Distance Learning Success Support Services (LPKBJJ), was officially opened by Director of UT Mataram Ronny Basista, Ph.D. For new students, OSMB serves as an initial gateway to understanding the distance education system and the academic journey they will undertake at UT.
Ronny explained that the orientation provided through LPKBJJ is an important part of students’ preparation before beginning their studies. Participants were introduced to the distance learning system, registration and examination procedures, and various digital services such as UT Online and My UT.
However, this OSMB did not stop at an introduction to the academic system. UT Mataram also promoted the “One Tree, One Student” movement, supported by the Watershed Management Agency (BPDAS), as part of the university’s commitment to developing the Green University concept.
“One student, one tree, one real contribution to the environment” became the slogan accompanying the distribution of seedlings to the new students.
Ronny emphasized that the seedlings were not merely an addition to the orientation activities. Behind each seedling taken home by a student was a message that higher education should produce individuals who not only pursue academic achievements, but also care about the environment and society.
“This program is not merely ceremonial. The distribution of tree seedlings symbolizes that entering higher education is not solely about achieving an academic degree, but also about building social responsibility and concern for nature,” Ronny Basista explained.
The message about responsibility is also in line with the learning characteristics at UT, which require students to develop independence and discipline throughout their learning process.
Therefore, the distribution of tree seedlings served as a meaningful conclusion after students participated in various orientation sessions on higher education, the learning system, registration, examinations, and the use of UT’s digital services. The moment was then documented through photographs and a group photo involving the new students and university representatives.
More than simply a tree-planting initiative, the movement carries the spirit of sustainable development in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 13 on Climate Action and SDG 15 on Life on Land.
UT Mataram hopes that the awareness introduced from students’ first day at university will not end when OSMB concludes. Instead, each seedling taken home is expected to grow alongside the students’ awareness of the importance of continuing to make a positive contribution.
After all, the journey of becoming a university student is not merely about earning a degree. There is knowledge to share, communities to impact, and a future to protect. From a single seedling planted today, new UT Mataram students learn that a greener future can also begin in their own hands.
