A day before its 2026 Period I graduation ceremony, Universitas Terbuka (UT) Palangka Raya held an academic seminar in Palangka Raya to equip prospective graduates with practical entrepreneurial insights. The event featured Aisyah Thisia Agustiar Sabran, Chair of Dewan Kerajinan Nasional Daerah Kalimantan Tengah (Dekranasda Kalteng), and carried the theme “UT and Dekranasda: Promoting Creative Entrepreneurship through Innovation, Technology, and Local Culture.” 

The seminar highlighted strategies for transforming local potential into economically valuable products. Participants were introduced to access to People’s Business Credit (KUR) through Bank Kalteng and the use of digital platforms to market MSME products. Local crafts such as rattan bags and processed food products were discussed as examples of items that can be enhanced through innovative design and effective marketing strategies. UT Palangka Raya Director Hariyadi, S.P., M.P., reaffirmed that UT’s flexible learning system enables students from diverse regions and backgrounds to pursue higher education. 

The following day, 581 graduates from 13 regencies and one city across Central Kalimantan were officially conferred at GPU Tambun Bungai. The ceremony marked not only an academic milestone but also the beginning of a new chapter, as many alumni—already experienced in the workforce—prepare to expand businesses or advance their careers. 

From seminar to graduation, UT emphasized that education extends beyond the classroom. Through its distance learning model, students can study while working and contribute directly to local development, turning knowledge into productive and innovative action.