Open University prepares tuition fee waivers for students affected by NTT earthquake
Universitas Terbuka (UT) is preparing various forms of assistance, including tuition fee waivers, for students affected by the M7.7 earthquake that struck Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) on Saturday (15/8).
“We are currently collecting data on our students, especially those affected in the Maumere area and its surroundings. We will obtain the data soon and provide maximum assistance, according to the severity of the disaster they experienced, starting from tuition fee waivers and other forms of aid,” said UT Rector Prof. Ali Muktiyanto to journalists on the sidelines of the “Rektor Menyapa” event at the UT Campus in South Tangerang on Wednesday.
Beyond financial assistance in the form of tuition fee waivers, Ali said UT is also providing special academic leniency and relaxation, particularly regarding the administration of final examinations for students affected by the NTT earthquake.
“This includes special facilitation of learning support for those affected by the disaster, including the administration of examinations. Their examinations may need to be delayed compared to their peers, but still within the same semester,” he added.
Ali explained that providing this kind of assistance is not new. UT has a long track record of supporting the educational continuity of students who are disaster survivors, as was done when disasters struck Aceh, Nias, and Padang some time ago.
“We have even disbursed no fewer than four thousand scholarships for students affected by disasters,” he said.
As a state university pioneering distance education, Ali said UT recognises that natural disasters often damage vital infrastructure, including telecommunications and electricity networks.
To address these obstacles, UT has prepared offline-based academic service scenarios so that learning can continue.
“When the internet network cannot function properly, we have distance education delivered offline,” said the UT Rector.
Separately, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology is prioritising the safety of all academic communities while continuing to monitor developments in NTT following the M7.7 earthquake that shook the Flores region on Saturday (15/8).
Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto emphasised that human safety is the top priority in disaster situations, while the education process must be maintained through adjustments according to conditions on the ground.
“In a disaster situation like this, the first thing we must ensure is the safety of the academic community. After that, we must work together to ensure the education process can continue with the necessary adjustments,” said Brian.