Open University Promotes Inclusive Education

Universitas Terbuka (UT) has stated that its open learning system is an effort to expand access to higher education for all levels of society without distinguishing by age, profession, or social status. The university also emphasised that all students undergo the same academic standards, including state officials and public figures. This was conveyed at the UT Graduation for the 2025/2026 Even Semester Region 2 in South Tangerang on Tuesday (14/7/2026), which was attended by around 1,500 graduates from 13 regional UT offices. A number of graduates came from diverse backgrounds, including Indonesian National Futsal Team goalkeeper Muhammad Albagir, Member of Commission IV of the Indonesian House of Representatives Muhammad Habibur Rochman, and Head of the Bali Province Development Planning Agency I Wayan Wiasthana Ika Putra. UT Rector Prof Ali Muktiyanto said the open learning system implemented by UT provides an alternative for people who have not been able to access higher education through conventional universities. “We want to truly state that UT is committed to joining the struggle to improve the quality of our nation. Only an educated nation can achieve its aspirations of becoming a developed country, and there is no history of a developed country that was not pioneered by the educated,” said Ali on Tuesday (14/7/2026). Ali said that each year, more than 1.2 million secondary school graduates are not accommodated by conventional public or private universities. According to him, UT provides opportunities for people to pursue education from undergraduate to doctoral levels, while improving competence through reskilling and upskilling. UT has also begun implementing an Outcome Based Education (OBE) approach so that the learning process is more aligned with the needs of society and the world of work. “This means it is truly expected to link with the needs of society, not just link with the business, industrial, and work sectors, but also the needs of society,” said Ali. Vice Rector for Academic Affairs at UT, Prof Rahmat Budiman, said all students receive services and undergo academic processes with the same standards without special treatment. “So, the officials here also have the same quality of education and services. If they do not pass, they do not pass, because we do not look at status. So once again, our foundation is quality, we live with quality, and we live for quality,” said Rahmat.