Indonesia Open University
Universitas Terbuka is Indonesia's 45th state university and employs open and distance learning system to widen access to higher education to all Indonesian citizens, including those who live in remote islands throughout the country as well as in various parts of the world. It has a total student body of more than 460,000. According to a distance education institution in the UK, UT, including one from "The Top Ten Mega Universities" UT-3 ranks after similar universities in China and Turkey.
Mission
UT's focus is on educating people who for various reasons including lack of funding, rural isolation and full-time employment, do not have opportunity to attend conventional face-to-face higher education institutions.The University's mission is:
- to expand the opportunity for quality higher education through the distance education system;
- to produce competent academicians and professionals who are able to compete globally;
- to increase participation in continuing education in order to create a knowledge-based society;
- to increase the quality and quantity of research and development in the distance education system, especially in distance higher education;
- to innovatively and continuously disseminate and share information on distance education especially on distance higher education;
- to strengthen national unity and integrity through the broad and equal provision of higher education;
- to increase cross-cultural understanding and networking through local, national and global partnerships;
- to produce academic products in distance higher education as well as in other fields of knowledge.
Accreditation
Flexible learning
UT offers a learning flexibility system:- no time limitation to complete the study, i.e. no dropout system;
- no time limitation on the year of graduation from senior high school, thus no age limit;
- all year-round registration period;
- flexible phase, place and time to study in accordance with student's own convenience;
- use of multimedia learning materials, including printed learning materials accompanied by audio and video cassettes/CD, CD-ROM, radio and TV broadcast, as well as Computer-Assisted Instructions and Internet-based learning materials.
Students can choose the kind of tutorial in accordance with the interests or abilities. Type of tutorials that can be followed by students is as follows:
- Face-to-face tutorial
- Tutorial by letter: Students can send questions about lecture material to the head of study program.
- Tutorial by radio, television and mass media: Students can follow the tutorial through the National Programmes/RRI wave radio. Tutorial on the radio is held five times a week. While the tutorial through TVRI can be listened to students on certain days. In addition, some local mass media provides tutorials for students of UT.
- Tutorial via the Internet
UT student learning outcome evaluation is conducted in the form of Independent Tasks, the tasks of the Special Design Front Face Tutorial, Practice or Practical Exam, Oral Exam, Final Exam Semester, and the Comprehensive Written Exam.
UT has two categories: the education program and regular program of non-regular program. The regular program can be followed by the general public. The non-regular program is administered programs in particular. At this time courses that are included in non-regular program is the Teacher Education Program Equalization D2 SD and S1-PGSD Program; the other courses included in the regular program.
Academic leave is one of convenience given to students who for any reason cannot complete the lecture. Students can take academic leave for four consecutive registration periods without having to report to UT. Before time runs out of academic leave, students must immediately register the course so student status is not lost.
Learning materials
Learning activities can be conducted at anywhere and any time.Printed material serves as the main learning medium, supplemented by non-printed materials such as recorded learning materials, as well as computerbased learning materials. To provide optimal education services to students who are spread all over the country and abroad, UT collaborates with agencies such as the PT Pos Indonesia, Bank Rakyat Indonesia, Televisi Republik Indonesia, Radio Republik Indonesia, Local Government Radio Broadcast, Radio Broadcast Private Commerce, Regional Office/Department of Education, Education Attache Embassy of Indonesia, National Library, and local libraries.
Open University is working with agencies that want to improve the quality of its employees: government agencies, state enterprises, or private. They can follow the program in the UT or order a new study program to suit the needs of the office. UT has been to get the trust of the government to improve the quality of primary school teachers through the Equalization Program D2 Elementary School Teacher. In addition, UT has won the trust to improve the quality of human resources from the military, Bank Rakyat Indonesia, PT Bank BNI, Garuda Indonesia, Merpati Nusantara, Ministry of Agriculture, Setwapres, and several other agencies.
Learning support service
The learning support services consist of academic and administrative services.Academic Services
The academic services are provided through tutorials. There are two kinds of tutorials: face-to-face and at a distance via radio, television, and internet. Furthermore, practical works are also provided for courses that need practicum. Both tutorials and practical works are facilitated by qualified tutors, instructors, and or supervisors, who come from various well-known public and private universities as well as from UT itself. For certain courses, resource persons are sometimes invited from business, industry and other relevant sectors.
Administrative Services
Administrative services are emphasized in providing assistance to students in registration, obtaining learning materials, applying for credit transfer, and addressing other matters that can influence students’ study process.
Student Assessment
The assessment of student learning is based on: tutorial assignments, practical works, practicum assignments, and final examination. These components reflect students’ overall learning achievement and contribute to the semester final grades of the students.UT administers final examinations at the end of every semester or twice a year. Final examinations are conducted as supervised pencil-paper tests simultaneously throughout the country. Students who take the Bachelor Programs are required to take the Program's Final Assignment at the end of the program as part of the requirements. Students who take the Master Programs are required to write Master Program's Final Assignment and pass the final oral examination. For certain courses and cases UT also offers the opportunity for students to take the examination on-line.
Final grades are announced via various methods including through UT website, and UPBJJ-UT.
Credit Transfer
UT students may apply for credit transfer for courses previously taken from other accredited universities.Operational Networking
UT has 37 regional offices, known as UPBJJ-UT, in 32 provinces. To support their operations, each UPBJJ-UT establishes close collaboration with various institutions, particularly with:- The local public and private universities for getting tutors, practicum instructors, and examination supervisors;
- Local governments for conducting tutorials and examination, as well as for getting scholarships for students; and
- Local radio and TV stations for relaying the tutorials and information about academic activities. The regular tutorials broadcast by the national radio stations.
- Q-Channel and TV-Edukasi for broadcasting UT's TV programs;
- RRI for broadcasting radio tutorials;
- BRI and BTN for receiving tuition fees and learning materials purchase from students; and
- PT Pos Indonesia for delivering the learning materials, examination documents and other supporting materials.
Partnership
UT also has close relationships with various international organizations such as the South-East Asian Ministers of Education Organization, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and SEAMEO Regional Open Learning Center.
UT is one of the founding members of the Asian Association of Open Universities, and the Global Mega-University Network. In addition UT is also an active member of the International Council for Open and Distance Education.
Academic program
UT has four Faculties and one Graduate Program that offer more than 30 Study Programs, including Master Programs, Bachelor Programs, Diploma Programs, and Certificate Programs.Faculty of Teacher Training and Educational Sciences http://fkip.ut.ac.id
Bachelor Programs- Indonesian and Literature Eduacation
- English Education
- Mathematics Education
- Physics Education
- Chemistry Education
- Biology Education
- Economics Education
- Pancasila and Civics Education
- Primary School Teacher Education
- Early Childhood Education Teacher
- Indonesian for Foreigners
- Public Administration of District Area
Faculty of Social and Political Sciences
- Public Administration
- Business Administration
- Government Studies
- Communication Science
- Sociology
- Law
- English Translation
- Archive
- Taxation
- Library Science
Faculty of Economics
- Economics Development
- Management
- Accounting
Faculty of Science and Technology
- Mathematics
- Statistics
- Biology
- Agribusiness, Majoring in Agricultural Extension and Communication/Animal Husbandry/Fishery
- Food Technology and Science
- Urban and Regional Planning
- Environmental Management
Graduate programs
- Administration Science, majoring in Public Administration
- Management
- Marine Science, majoring in Fishery Management
- Mathematics Education
Facilities
Data Processing Services
Since its establishment in 1984, UT has provided computerized database analysis services. UT has up to date hardware and software facilities, including computer application programs that have been developed for specific needs of UT and other users of UT services.Facilities For Development, Storage, and Distribution Printed Materials
UT has human resource and equipment in desktop publishing that can provide services in preparing printed materials. In addition, UT staffs have extensive experience in distributing printed materials to districts in Sumatera, Java, Bali, and West Nusa Tenggara.Multimedia Production Facilities
UT has a Multimedia Production Center with facilities and human resources. The staffs are professionally trained in audio visual development and production in Indonesia and overseas. Several government and private institutions have utilized this, company profiles, promotions, and learning materials in the form of video, audio-tape, audio-graphics, slides, and VCD.Sport Facilities
UT provides room facilities for meetings, seminars, workshops. UT Convention Center and lodging has capacity of 3,000 people. The following facilities are:- Wisma I, II, and III with 106 rooms.
- Jogging track, outdoor tennis courts, futsal court, basketball court and fitness center.
- UT Convention Center.
Human Resource Development services
Upgrading qualifications of human resource in:
- Public Administration
- Business Administration
- Government Studies
- Communication Studies
- Taxation Studies
- Language Services
- Management, Accounting Studies
- Economics and Development Studies
- Applied Statistics, Mathematics, and Science
- Food Technology
- Agricultural Extension Programs
- Training needs analysis
- Making plans for training center
- Developing learning materials, either printed or electronic
- Providing in-house training, either face-to face or at a distance
- Training program Evaluation
- Need Analysis for types of extensions programs
- Development and production of extension programs media, either printed or electronic
- Training for extension officers
- Public Speaking
- Public Relations Consultancy
- Organizational Communication
- Word Processing
- Database
- Web Design
- Publishing
- Library Automation
- Management
- Supervision consultancy
- Regional economic potential
Research and development
- Center of Institutional Research and System Development
- Center of Science
- Center of Community Services
- Inter-University Center for Improving and Developing Instructional Activities
The LPPM-UT specializes research and development in the following areas:
- Open and Distance Education
- Evaluation of Educational
- Educational Management
- Policy and Institutional Studies
- Social Development
- Regional Economic Development
- Environmental Impact Analysis
- Regional Development
- Agriculture, Fishery, and Husbandry
- Sciences
- Instructional Media
- Consultancy and Research Training
- Monitoring and Evaluation
LPPM-UT provides:
- Management Information System Design.
- Application of Computerized Management Information
- Systems Application
- website Design and Development
- Information Systems Development
- Information Systems Evaluation
- Media Prototype Development
Community services include:
- Training for continuing education programs.
- Development of people's empowerment programs to improve the quality of life.
- Development of networks and partnerships to support the continuing education and social services programs.
- Professional consultancy services in people's empowerment, human resource, education, and development of both organization and society.
The Inter-University Center for Improving and Developing of Instructional Activities has a mission to improve the quality of instruction at higher levels of education at open and distance higher education and conventional universities. The IUC-IDIA professional staff have experience in conducting needs analysis, developing programs, curriculum development, assessment of learning, evaluating instructional programs, developing the prototype of learning materials, developing multi-media course materials, developing computer-based tutorials, and professional training for educators, trainers, and instructor.
The IUC-IDIA services include:''
- Programs for Improving the Basic Skills of Instructional Techniques
- Applied Approach
- Development of Distance Learning Systems
- Curriculum Development
- Learning Materials Development
- Tutor's Training
- Instructional Media Development
- Development of Computer-Assisted Tutorial
- Achievement Evaluation
- Classroom Action Research
The IUC-IDIA has strategic alliances with other units within UT itself, with over 51 state-owned universities, and with education and training centers in 25 Departments, Colleges belonged to certain governmental departments, as well as education and training centers for specific fields