A huge public interest led Universitas Terbuka (UT) Surabaya to hold the UT Fiesta Volume 2 again at the Atrium of Royal Plaza Surabaya. The two-day event took place from Saturday, September 20, to Sunday, September 21. In addition to showcasing the talents of high school students, the event also featured an educational exhibition, an UMKM bazaar, and a performing arts show. Therefore, it’s no surprise that visitor enthusiasm was very high throughout the UT Fiesta Volume 2 event.
The talent competition held was very much in line with current needs and trends. It included a choir, modern dance, MC (master of ceremonies), and an Instagram Reels competition. This event not only serves as a venue for showcasing talent but also as a platform for students to be more creative in entrepreneurship to introduce their products to the public.
According to the Director of UT Surabaya, Dr. Suparti, M.Pd., the hope is that this event will attract new talent from high schools. “Hopefully, with that goal, new talents from high school students will be formed. We believe that high school students also want to go to college, which is why we’re partnering with so many,” she said.
This event is also in line with the “Kampus Berdampak” (Impactful Campus) program promoted by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek). Furthermore, it is also aligned with the role of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially for SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) because UT encourages students to have supporting skills and opens up job opportunities through education and entrepreneurship development. And finally, SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), UT Surabaya is also building partnerships with government agencies as part of a strategy to introduce education to a wider audience.
In addition to the benefits of the Fiesta Volume 2 event, UT Surabaya also offers convenience for high school graduates who wish to continue their studies at a higher education level. Universitas Terbuka (UT) Surabaya not only focuses on academic activities and talent development but also pays special attention to prospective students from low-income families. Through a merit-based scholarship program, UT strives to provide the widest possible opportunity for them to continue their higher education.
The Director of UT Surabaya, Dr. Suparti, M.Pd., emphasized that they want to increase public awareness about UT. “We hope that through this event, Royal Plaza visitors can gain broader insight into UT. Many people still don’t know that UT is a state university, with a flexible learning system where they don’t have to come to campus every day, and with relatively affordable tuition or SPP,” she explained. So, hopefully, this event can provide new insights and make UT a state university choice that can be a solution to the problems of prospective students.
