Tangerang Selatan, June 10, 2025 – As a pioneer in Open and Distance Higher Education (PTTJJ) in Indonesia, Universitas Terbuka (UT) continues to attract the attention of the academic world, both domestically and internationally. This time, UT received a special visit from Shenzhen Open University (SZOU) on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. The meeting, held in the Operational Room of BKUK UT Central, Pondok Cabe, South Tangerang, served as a platform for discussion and sharing experiences on best practices in managing distance education, as well as forging strategic partnerships to foster a more inclusive and adaptive global education transformation.
The event commenced with a welcoming address from the Rector of UT, Dr. Mohamad Yunus, S.S., M.A., who expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration with SZOU. He emphasized the importance of synergy among open universities in the digital era, stating that this inspiring cooperation is expected to enrich innovation, enhance the quality of academic services, and create a broader impact for students of both institutions.
The President of Shenzhen Open University, Zhong Zhihong, in his speech, expressed his admiration for UT as the largest university in Indonesia in terms of student numbers and its renowned reputation, especially in Asia. He also appreciated UT’s ability to educate students who are not only academically resilient but also capable of competing globally. The SZOU President referred to UT as an inspiring model of distance education provision that successfully combines large scale with maintained academic quality. The SZOU President also openly invited UT to make a reciprocal visit to China in the near future.
The main agenda of the visit was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UT and SZOU. This document serves as an initial foundation for exploring cooperation in various fields, such as faculty and student exchange, joint research, digital learning material development, and strengthening technology-based learning systems. The signing ceremony was followed by a joint photo session and the exchange of souvenirs as a symbol of friendship between the institutions.
After the MoU signing, strategic discussions were held through presentations from various work units at UT, including the Office of Vice Rector 4, Office of Vice Rector 1, Office of Vice Rector 3, and the Learning Management Center. These discussions covered a number of best practices implemented by UT in providing distance education, including digital transformation in the academic system, Learning Management System (LMS) management, and an inclusive approach that allows students from all over Indonesia and abroad to study without barriers.
The visit continued to the Center for Learning Material and Multimedia Production (P2BAM), where the SZOU delegation directly observed the development process of UT’s learning materials, from module writing to multimedia content production. Prof. Lidwina Sri Ardiasih, S.Pd., M.Ed., guided the explanation on how UT ensures the quality development of learning materials remains in accordance with established instructional standards. The delegation also visited the Learning Material Services Center (PUSLABA), where Mr. Arief Rahman Susila, S.E., M.Si., explained the distribution flow of printed and digital learning materials to millions of UT students both domestically and abroad.
The activity then continued to UT Jakarta as one of the leading Regional UTs, where the SZOU delegation was welcomed with a presentation on academic service operations, including tutorial management, examinations, and student interaction. At this location, the guests from SZOU China gained a real picture of how the UT system works comprehensively, integrated, and consistently reaches students from various backgrounds and geographical conditions.
This visit by SZOU to UT is a clear reflection of UT’s strategic position as a key player in open higher education in Indonesia and Asia. In the spirit of global cooperation and continuous innovation, both institutions agreed to establish closer collaboration to strengthen the existence of quality, sustainable distance education that addresses contemporary challenges. UT and SZOU believe that this partnership will make a tangible contribution to realizing a more just and equitable future for education, not only for Indonesia and China but also for the global community more broadly.
