On Monday, July 22, 2024, the Rector of Universitas Terbuka (UT), Prof. Ojat Darojat, M.Bus. Ph.D., alongside the Director of UT Serang, Dr. Teguh Prakoso, S.Pd., M.Hum., and the Chair of the Audit Committee of the UT Board of Trustees, Dr. Muhtarom, S.E., M.M., met with the Acting Governor of Banten, Dr. Al Muktabar, M.Sc., who was accompanied by the Secretary of the Inspectorate, Hj. Ratu Syafitri Muhayati, S.E., to strengthen cooperation at the Banten Provincial Government Hall. During this meeting, the Acting Governor emphasized his commitment to ensuring that “no resident of Banten is deprived of education, whether at school or university.” The strategy to achieve this goal involves digitalization and acceleration in the education sector, collaborating with UT, which has extensive experience in delivering distance higher education mediated by the latest digital technologies.
The Acting Governor conveyed several key points. Firstly, the Banten Provincial Government is prepared to allocate funds for Banten residents studying at UT. These students will be directed towards prominent study programs that focus on foreign language proficiency, quantitative strengthening, agriculture, and information technology. To support the increase in access to higher education, he stated, “All high schools, vocational schools, and special education schools in Banten may be used by UT as venues for face-to-face tutorials (TTM) and final semester exams (UAS).”
Secondly, to enhance the quality of education in Banten, the Acting Governor suggested that Universitas Terbuka (UT) establish a Faculty of Medicine, given that Banten already has four teaching hospitals that can support this program. Thirdly, he also hoped that UT could assist Banten in providing hybrid workforce training programs for job-seeking residents to equip them with industry-relevant competencies.
From his routine visits to communities in Banten, the Acting Governor often encounters questions about whether UT is a public or private university. In light of this, he proposed renaming UT to Universitas Negeri Terbuka (UNT) to strengthen its branding as a public university in Indonesia, particularly in Banten.
The Rector of UT expressed that UT is ready to synergize with the Banten Provincial Government to achieve the noble goal of ensuring that no Banten resident misses out on higher education. He emphasized that UT offers a solution for all Banten residents who wish to pursue higher education without age restrictions and at an affordable cost while maintaining quality by adhering to national and international standards. The Rector also highlighted that UT has integrated artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and the metaverse into its learning and student services. As the head of the Indonesian Cyber Education (ICE) Institute consortium, UT offers various courses from renowned national and international universities for free, supporting the achievement of specific competencies needed by Banten residents.
With advanced technology and outstanding programs, UT is committed and ready to collaborate with the Banten Provincial Government to continually enhance the quality of higher education services, including job training for Banten residents, ensuring that no resident is deprived of higher education or necessary job skills.
In conclusion, the Acting Governor of Banten expressed his desire for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation Agreement between the Banten Provincial Government and UT to be realized promptly, so that Banten residents can quickly benefit from this partnership.
