Indonesia Open University or Universitas Terbuka (UT) and the Islamic State University or Institut Agama Islam Negeri (IAIN) Syekh Nurjati Cirebon agree on the cooperation which is realized by the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which is held at the Universitas Terbuka Convention Center, Thursday (3/6/2021). The signing was done by the UT’s Vice Rector for Institutional Development and Partnership Affairs, Rahmat Budiman, S.S., M.Hum., Ph.D. and the IAIN’s Vice Rector for Student and Partnership Affairs, Dr. H. Ilman Nafi’a, M.Ag. In this signing, UT and IAIN Syekh Nurjati Cirebon have agreed on the cooperation for the implementation of the Three Principles of Higher Education Institutions (Tri Dharma Perguruan Tinggi) and the implementation of Independent Campus Program (Kampus Merdeka).

In his remarks, the UT’s Vice Rector for Institutional Development and Partnership Affairs, Rahmat Budiman, M.Hum., Ph.D., stated that UT plays its role in evenly distributing the access to university education which is affordable to the people of Indonesia. It is proven by the recruitment of civil servant candidates (CPNS) in 2019, where more than 9000 new civil servants successfully passing the CPNS selection process in 2019 were UT graduates.

Subsequently, the Vice Rector for Student and Partnership Affairs of IAIN Syekh Nurjati Cirebon, Dr. H. Ilman Nafi’a, M.Ag., stated that IAIN Syekh Nurjati Cirebon is mandated by the Ministry of Religious Affairs to become a pilot project in the implementation of Islamic Cyber University, and as such, the university needs to learn and dig in more knowledge from UT which is the pioneers in the implementation of Open and Distance Learning (PJJ). He expressed his appreciation for the UT’s extraordinary hospitality as the host. May IAIN Syekh Nurjati Cirebon promote quality education and provide education access to fullest extent through open and distance education (PJJ) in the future.