As a pioneer of digital education in Indonesia, Universitas Terbuka (UT) continues to demonstrate its commitment to providing high-quality distance learning for people from all walks of life. With over 670,000 active students, UT serves as a benchmark for other universities in Indonesia in implementing digital learning systems. This was evident during Universitas Negeri Malang’s (UM) visit on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, to conduct benchmarking on UT’s learning systems and operations.
The activities began with a visit to UT’s main operational units: the Center for Learning Material and Multimedia Production (P2BAM) and the Center for Learning Material Management (PUSLABA). At P2BAM, the UM delegation was introduced to UT’s production process for learning materials, available in both physical and digital formats. Innovative learning media such as UT Radio and the UTTV YouTube channel were showcased as modern teaching tools. Meanwhile, at PUSLABA, the UT team presented the processes for managing, packaging, and distributing printed learning materials to students across Indonesia.
Following the visit, the benchmarking activities continued with the main session held in the Mahoni Room at Wisma 3. In his opening remarks, UT’s Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, Partnership, and Business, Rahmat Budiman, M.Hum., Ph.D., emphasized UT’s openness as a pioneer in distance education (PJJ) in Indonesia to share its experiences with other universities. He stated that despite UT’s unique characteristics compared to other universities, its goal remains the same: to provide high-quality higher education access to a wide audience.
From UM’s side, Prof. Dr. Suyono, M.Pd., Director of Education, expressed his appreciation for UT’s contributions in inspiring other universities in Indonesia to adopt distance learning practices. He conveyed UM’s enthusiasm for learning from UT, the only public university (PTN) in Indonesia that fully implements a distance learning system.
The event included an exchange of souvenirs and group photos, symbolizing mutual appreciation and strengthening the collaboration between UT and UM. A benchmarking discussion became a crucial part of the agenda. During the discussion, Rahmat Budiman, Ph.D., highlighted how UT eliminates traditional barriers in distance education, such as age limits, geographical distances, registration periods, selection processes, and graduation timelines.
The discussion continued with an explanation of UT’s distance learning system by Wahyu Inayanto, S.Kom., Manager of System Management and Learning Assistance Data Services. He covered topics such as curriculum, tutorials, and examinations across diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate programs. Meanwhile, Ali Tarigan, S.E., Director of Marketing and Partnership, presented innovative promotion and marketing strategies to expand and enhance participation in distance learning programs. The discussion was interactive, with many questions from the UM team regarding various aspects of UT’s operational systems.
As a leader in distance education in Indonesia, UT remains committed to collaborating and sharing its expertise in e-learning-based distance education. This commitment reflects UT’s mission to provide high-quality higher education without boundaries. This benchmarking activity is expected to bring mutual benefits to both institutions and foster collaboration that positively impacts the wider community in the digital era.
