Working for years does not mean having to give up the dream of pursuing higher education. In fact, the experience accumulated in the workplace can become part of an academic journey.
This opportunity is now being opened by Universitas Terbuka (UT) for Indonesian workers through a partnership with the Confederation of All-Indonesian Trade Unions (Konfederasi Serikat Pekerja Seluruh Indonesia – KSPSI). The two parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemendiktisaintek) Building in Senayan, Jakarta, on Monday (August 10, 2026).
The MoU was signed by UT Rector Prof. Ali Muktiyanto and KSPSI Chairman M. Jumhur Hidayat and witnessed directly by Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Mendiktisaintek) Prof. Brian Yuliarto.
The partnership provides workers from various confederations and federations with opportunities to utilize UT’s educational services. One of the key features is Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), which allows experience and learning previously acquired by workers to be recognized and converted into a number of semester credit units (SKS) for courses.
This means that experience is no longer merely part of a career journey. The knowledge and competencies gained through work can become valuable assets for accelerating an academic journey.
Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Prof. Brian Yuliarto described the partnership as a noble initiative. According to him, improving workers’ education not only benefits individuals but can also have a positive impact on their social environment and the companies where they work.
“Through this partnership, workers’ prior learning experiences can also accelerate graduation. For example, what should take four years could potentially be completed in just three years,” said Prof. Brian.
This opportunity is important because, for many workers, continuing their education is not a simple matter. There are jobs that need to be completed, families that need attention, and other responsibilities that cannot simply be left behind.
Therefore, flexibility is key. UT’s educational model allows workers to continue their professional activities while having the opportunity to pursue higher education. Through the RPL scheme, the path toward graduation can also become more efficient when previous experience meets established academic criteria.
The initiative does not stop there. UT Rector Prof. Ali Muktiyanto also conveyed the possibility of providing a special tuition scheme for workers participating in the program through this partnership.
“It is possible that workers who enroll through this program will receive a special discount,” he said.
The partnership between UT and KSPSI carries a message that goes beyond the signing of a document. Higher education is increasingly expected to serve communities with diverse circumstances and needs, including those who have already entered the workforce.
For UT, the partnership further reinforces the role of open and distance education in expanding access to higher education. For workers, meanwhile, the opportunity can serve as a bridge to improving their competencies without having to halt the career journey they have already built.
The initiative is in line with SDG 4 on Quality Education, particularly in providing lifelong learning opportunities, as well as SDG 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth through the development of human resource capacity and competencies.
Several KSPSI labor figures attended the MoU signing, including Arif Minardi, Idrus, Wiwit Widuri, Tamrin, Raslina Rasyidin, and Anna Sumarna. Several UT Vice Rectors were also present.
For workers, pursuing higher education no longer has to mean returning to square one. Years spent in the workforce have shaped valuable knowledge, skills, and competencies. Through RPL, these experiences now have the opportunity to receive academic recognition. This is where the partnership between UT and KSPSI finds its significance: opening a pathway for workers to continue growing without having to leave behind the careers they have built.
