Bogor, March 19, 2025 – Universitas Terbuka (UT) and BPJS Kesehatan (Healthcare Security Agency) officially signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) at the PETAJARU (New Academic Year Opening) 2025 event held on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at the Ballroom of BPJS Kesehatan Corporate University. The event carried the theme “Digital Transformation: Smart Learning, Excellent Work” as part of the commitment to enhance technology-based higher education access. 

The signing of this MoA was attended by the Acting Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, Partnership, and Business of UT, Rahmat Budiman, S.S., M.Hum., Ph.D.; Director of Human Resources and General Affairs of BPJS Kesehatan – Dr. dr. Andi Afdal, M.B.A., AAK; Supervisory Board of BPJS – Prof. dr. Abdul Kadir, Ph.D., Sp. THT-KL(K), M.A.R.S.; Director General of Science and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology – Prof. Dr. Ahmad Najib Burhani, Ph.D.; and Prof. dr. Ali Gufron Mukti, M.Sc., Ph.D., AAK. 

The partnership between UT and BPJS includes Educational Cost Assistance to support the national S1 learning program (PANJAR 1), which aims to accelerate BPJS Kesehatan employees to pursue higher education. 

In his speech, the Director of Human Resources and General Affairs of BPJS Kesehatan, Dr. dr. Andi Afdal, M.B.A., AAK., expressed his appreciation for the success of the previous program. 

“Throughout 2024, BPJS Kesehatan has enrolled 436 of its employees at UT,” said Dr. dr. Andi Afdal. 

The Supervisory Board of BPJS Kesehatan, Prof. dr. Abdul Kadir, Ph.D., Sp. THT-KL(K), M.A.R.S., in his speech emphasized the importance of strategic partnership in improving the quality of health and administrative personnel education in Indonesia. Meanwhile, in his keynote speech, the Director General of Science and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, Prof. Dr. Ahmad Najib Burhani, Ph.D., highlighted how technology and science play an important role in the world of education. 

With this strategic partnership between UT and BPJS Kesehatan, it is hoped that more professionals can develop their competencies through flexible and quality distance learning approaches. The implementation of PANJAR 1 is believed to contribute positively to improving the quality of human resources in Indonesia, especially for BPJS Kesehatan employees.