Higher education is now increasingly accessible from the Mentawai Islands! Universitas Terbuka (UT) and the Regional Government of the Mentawai Islands Regency are exploring strategic collaboration through the planned establishment of a Universitas Terbuka Service Center (SALUT) in the region.
The visit of the Regent of the Mentawai Islands Regency for the 2025-2030 period, Dr. Rinto Wardana, S.H., M.H., to Universitas Terbuka (UT) Padang marked the initial step in this collaboration. The meeting discussed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two parties and the establishment of a Universitas Terbuka Service Center (SALUT) in Mentawai as a solution for higher education access in the archipelago. This step is considered strategic in encouraging more people to pursue higher education without having to leave their hometowns.
SALUT is designed as an academic and administrative service center that expands reach to remote parts of the country. In Mentawai, SALUT will be managed by Yudas Sabaggalet, S.E., M.M., the former two-term Regent of the Mentawai Islands, who has a high commitment to the advancement of education in his region.
During the meeting, Dr. Rinto Wardana emphasized the importance of education in improving community welfare, especially in island regions with limited access to higher education institutions. “I strongly support education, especially Universitas Terbuka, which is a favorite of the Mentawai community because of its flexible learning system that can be done through a distance education scheme,” he said.
He also shared his experience of getting to know UT from a teacher who actively managed a learning group (Pokjar) in the Mentawai area. According to him, UT has made a significant contribution to opening up educational opportunities for educators and the wider community in the Mentawai Islands.
The Director of UT Padang, Dr. Mery Berlian, S.P, M.Si., welcomed this initiative and affirmed UT’s commitment to supporting access to higher education in remote areas. “We strongly support the presence of the Regent of the Mentawai Islands Regency in this program. This collaboration plan will strengthen access to higher education for the community in Mentawai,” she stated.
UT Padang plans to make an official visit to the Regional Government of the Mentawai Islands Regency to follow up on this cooperation agreement. This step is part of UT’s commitment to providing concrete solutions to educational challenges in the 3T (foremost, outermost, disadvantaged) regions.
As a state university providing distance education, UT offers a flexible learning system and affordable fees. This allows the community, including those who work or have limited mobility, to continue their higher education.
The establishment of SALUT in the Mentawai Islands is an important momentum in the development of local human resources. Its existence is expected to motivate the younger generation to pursue higher education without having to leave their hometowns, while also actively contributing to regional development.
