JAKARTA – A total of 29 Universitas Terbuka (UT) students residing and working in South Korea officially earned their bachelor’s degrees in the Universitas Terbuka Overseas (UT Luar Negeri) 2025 Graduation Ceremony held in a hybrid format on Sunday (April 20, 2025).
This graduation moment is clear evidence that geographical boundaries are not an obstacle to achieving dreams. Amidst their routines as Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI), these graduates consistently pursued their online studies until finally completing their education.
“Their spirit of learning knows no distance, time, or limitations. This is the fruit of a long struggle and extraordinary perseverance,” said the Director of UT Overseas, Dr. Pardamean Daulay, in his speech.
Up to this year, UT Overseas has recorded serving 7,097 students spread across 56 countries and 90 cities worldwide. In South Korea alone, there are 367 active students, and 29 of them have now successfully completed their studies.
According to Dr. Pardamean, the degrees earned are not just academic achievements but also symbols of hope. “This is proof that dreams can grow in a foreign land. Every sleepless night, every longing for family that was held back, is paid off today with a bachelor’s degree,” he said.
He also expressed his gratitude for the support of various parties who played an important role in the graduation ceremony, including the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul, the Education and Culture Attaché, the Manpower Attaché, and the entire team of the UT Service Center (SALUT) South Korea.
“Without the moral support and facilitation from many parties, this event would not have run this well,” added Pardamean.
The Vice-Rector II of UT, Prof. Dr. Ali Muktiyanto, also delivered a meaningful message to the graduates. He emphasized that graduation is not the finish line but rather the starting gate to greater challenges.
“Lifelong learning is a philosophy of UT that must continue to be upheld. I believe all of you are extraordinary people. It is not easy to divide time between working and studying. But you were able to go through it well,” said Ali.
He also expressed his hope that more PMIs would continue their higher education through UT. This hope is in line with the government’s program to improve the quality of protection and welfare of migrant workers, which is part of the government’s vision.
For information, in March 2025, UT signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indonesian Ministry of Migrant Worker Protection to expand access to higher education for PMIs.
Closing the event, Ali Muktiyanto appreciated the hard work of the committee, students, and the SALUT South Korea team who made the graduation ceremony a success. He hoped that their struggle would be a source of blessings and motivation for other Indonesian citizens abroad.
With the success of these students in Korea, Universitas Terbuka has once again proven that higher education can be present for anyone, anywhere. UT’s commitment to reaching Indonesian citizens abroad makes it a pioneer of inclusive and flexible global education transformation.
