KUPANG, Nusa Tenggara Timur — Kupang has once again become a focal point in the development of higher education in Indonesia. Universitas Terbuka (UT) Kupang hosted a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) as part of the feasibility study for the establishment of UT Jakarta Digital and UT Nabire on Saturday, June 13, 2026.
Held at the UT Kupang Hall, the discussion featured two speakers from UT Central Office and involved prospective students, current students, and alumni. The FGD was conducted as part of the assessment process to evaluate both the demand for and the readiness of establishing new Universitas Terbuka units in several regions.
Albert Gamot Malau, Director of UT Kupang, explained that Kupang was selected as one of the locations for the feasibility study because the community’s level of digital literacy and digital education is considered relatively high. According to him, the discussion served as a platform to gather perspectives from stakeholders who have firsthand experience with UT’s distance learning system.
“This FGD is a discussion forum that forms part of the feasibility study. Several regions were selected, and Kupang is one of them. Based on the information we received, UT Kupang was chosen because the community’s level of digital literacy and digital education is considered quite good,” he said.
During the event, participants were divided into three discussion groups: prospective students, current students, and alumni. Each group was invited to share their experiences, insights, and perspectives regarding the distance learning services that Universitas Terbuka has provided.
The findings from these discussions will serve as important considerations for the UT leadership in determining the feasibility of establishing UT Jakarta Digital and UT Nabire. Albert explained that the proposed UT Jakarta Digital would differ from the existing UT Jakarta, which currently operates as a regular regional office.
“Jakarta already has a regular Universitas Terbuka regional office. In the future, UT plans to establish UT Jakarta Digital. In addition, UT is also expanding higher education services in Papua, including the planned establishment of UT Nabire,” he said.
He further explained that the results of the feasibility study will be submitted to the Board of Trustees, following Universitas Terbuka’s transition into a State University with Legal Entity (PTNBH). Based on the study’s findings, the Board will determine whether the establishment of the two new units should proceed.
The selection of Kupang as one of the FGD locations also reflects the positive development of digital literacy within the community and the growing acceptance of technology-based learning models. This initiative aligns with efforts to expand access to inclusive and high-quality higher education, in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education.
Following the event in Kupang, the team from UT Central Office was scheduled to visit the Universitas Terbuka Learning Service Center (SALUT) in Kabupaten Timor Tengah Selatan. The visit aims to observe firsthand the role and contribution of SALUT in supporting educational services for students in regional areas.
