Itera prepares SMT affirmation pathway to equalise higher education access in Lampung
The Sumatera Institute of Technology (Itera) is preparing an affirmation pathway for the 2026 Integrated Independent Selection (SMT) to strengthen equal access to higher education in Lampung Province.
“We continue to expand access to higher education for the people of Lampung Province through the opening of the Itera SMT Affirmation Pathway for 2026,” said Itera Rector Prof. Dr. I Nyoman Pugeg Aryantha in Lampung Province on Thursday.
He stated that this policy is part of Itera’s efforts to improve educational opportunity equality while also strengthening representation of students from all regencies and municipalities across Lampung Province.
“Currently, the registration process for Itera’s 2026 SMT is still ongoing and will close on 29 June 2026. To date, 576 participants have completed the registration process through the three available selection schemes,” he said.
He explained that the SMT Itera 2026 selection comprises participants who did not pass the National Selection Based on Achievement (SNBP), those who did not pass the National Selection Based on Test (SNBT), and participants in the Special Achievement pathway.
“Based on the registration data that has entered the Itera SMT system, the institution is currently reviewing the implementation of an affirmation pathway as a strategy to improve the distribution of students from all regions of Lampung Province,” he said.
He added that this programme will utilise the existing applicant database without opening a new registration process. The review shows that over the past five years, several regencies have had relatively low levels of student representation at Itera.
“The five lowest regencies are Tanggamus (3.16 per cent), Way Kanan (2.72 per cent), West Tulang Bawang (1.73 per cent), West Pesisir (0.92 per cent), and Mesuji (0.61 per cent),” he noted.
He said this data forms the basis for formulating the affirmation policy, which aims to provide broader opportunities to prospective students from areas that have historically had low representation within Itera.
“Through this affirmation scheme, we seek to promote equal access to science and technology-based higher education for all Lampung communities. The allocation of affirmation capacity will be determined based on the evaluation results of student distribution data and the number of applicants from each region,” he said.
He stressed that the entire selection process for this pathway will continue to be carried out by upholding the principles of transparency, objectivity, and accountability in accordance with applicable regulations.
“With this affirmation pathway, we hope that more of the best sons and daughters from all regencies and cities in Lampung Province will have the opportunity to pursue higher education and become part of regional and national development in the future,” he said.