The celebration of the Indonesian Independence Day has been held online in the last two years. The pandemic has forced us to hold the flag hoisting ceremony and 17^th August Independence Day in our own residents which the euphoria of the celebration is less festive as we all feel it. Nevertheless, the pandemic has also taught us so many lessons, particularly the use of technology. With the pandemic, we get used to with online communication, getting us united with one another through glass screen.

Likewise, the flag hoisting ceremony this time was held in the same manner at Universitas Terbuka. The ceremony for the commemoration of the 17^th August Independence Day was performed hybrid by all the civitas academics in Universitas Terbuka from the UT’s Head office to all UT’s Regional Office (UPBJJ-UT) across Indonesia and the City of Ende which is part of the region of the study group of UPBJJ-UT Kupang. The ceremony this time was different than the usual one. Simultaneously, all UPBJJ-UT offices conducted the flag hoisting ceremony which was centered in the UT’s Headquarter taking venue at UTCC. The UT’s Rector, Prof. Ojat Darojat, M.Bus., Ph.D., as the inspector of the ceremony, who had usually conducted the event from the UT’s Headquarter, was today reading out the mandate of the Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia from the Exile House of the First President of the Republic Indonesia, Bung Karno, which took venue in Ende, East Nusa Tenggara.

The commemoration of the 77^th anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia 2022 was performed with the spirit of “Recovering Quicker, Bouncing Back Stronger or Pulih Lebih Cepat, Bangkit Lebih Kuat”, and the Minister, who was represented by the UT’s Rector, hopes that we continue to move and step forward in the struggle to achieve the independence’s goals. One of which is the independence and freedom to obtain education. The learning process in Indonesia is now more likely taking side on the students and gives the freedom to the teachers to be creative in teaching with Kurikulum Merdeka (Independent Curriculum) and Merdeka Mengajar (Teaching Independently) platform. In addition, Indonesia has also been able to convince the world that Indonesia young generation has been well trained for employment and prepared for the life of society through training and learning programs off-campus which are unified in Kampus merdeka (Independent Campus).

In addition to the flag raising ceremony, the celebration today was also performed with the presentation of the awards of Satyalancana Karya Satya of 10 years, 20 years, and 30 years for their loyalty and services to 98 personnel of UT Head office and 15 personnel of UPBJJ-UT offices. The insignia of honors were awarded to the civil servants as the appreciation and reward fer their commitment and dedication while performing their roles and duties as they have shown their loyalty, services, competence, integrity, and discipline. Such form of appreciation is expected to motivate other civil servants so they can serve and contribute to the advancement of education in Indonesia.