Tangerang Selatan — On February 11, 2026, Universitas Terbuka (UT) Palembang conferred 982 graduates during its Regional Commencement Ceremony (Period I, 2026) at Hotel Santika Premier. The graduates came from 17 regencies and cities across South Sumatra, many balancing work, family, and study through UT’s flexible distance learning system. 

The graduates included 4 postgraduate students, 328 from the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP), 316 from the Faculty of Economics and Business, 23 from the Faculty of Science and Technology, and 10 from vocational programs. Most hailed from Palembang City. 

UT Palembang Director Drs. Muhammad Tair A, M.M., praised the graduates’ perseverance, emphasizing that the degree represents both recognition of competence and a mandate to contribute meaningfully to society. With 41,442 active students in the 2026 odd semester, UT Palembang ranks fourth nationally among 39 UT regional offices. 

Vice Rector for Academic and Student Affairs Prof. Rahmat Budiman noted that earning a degree at UT requires strong discipline, particularly for working students. “UT graduates are resilient individuals who successfully balance study with other responsibilities,” he said. 

Nationally, UT serves more than 763,000 active students and has produced over two million alumni since its establishment. The university has earned multiple international accreditations from ICDE and continues pursuing global standards in selected study programs. 

The ceremony reaffirmed UT’s role in advancing equitable access to higher education, contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities) by reaching learners across diverse ages, professions, and geographic locations.