Dili, Timor Leste, June 18, 2025 — Universitas Terbuka (UT) once again affirmed its role as a pioneer in Open and Distance Higher Education (PTTJJ) in the regional area by inaugurating its first Overseas Universitas Terbuka Service Center (SALUT) in Timor Leste. This inauguration was carried out on Tuesday, June 18, 2025, by the Director of UT Kupang, Dr. Ajad Sudrajat, M.Pd., as a concrete form of expanding cross-border educational services.
The SALUT in Timor Leste is tangible proof of UT’s commitment to reaching communities in border areas and foreign nationals (WNA) who need access to quality higher education. With a technology-based approach and learning flexibility, UT, through UT Kupang, not only expands its academic reach but also strengthens its position as an inclusive and accountable state university at the international level.
The presence of this SALUT will make it easier for Timor Leste foreign nationals and the Indonesian diaspora there to access academic services, information, and learning support equivalent to UT students in Indonesia.
The initiative to establish this SALUT has been well received by various parties, including local educational institutions and the government, who view UT as a strategic partner in strengthening human resources and providing access to open education. This step also continues the strategic cooperation between UT and several educational institutions in Timor Leste that were established previously.
Through a collaborative approach, UT not only brings a digital-based PTTJJ system but also the spirit of empowerment and sustainability to answer the challenges of 21st-century education. This breakthrough is expected to further strengthen public trust in UT’s educational services, open opportunities for cross-country synergy, and encourage the achievement of SDG targets, especially in the areas of quality education (SDG 4), reduced inequalities (SDG 10), and global partnerships (SDG 17).
The SALUT in Timor Leste symbolizes the continuity of UT’s mission: to provide higher education that is accessible to anyone, anywhere, without limitations of space and time, including for foreign nationals.
