Universitas Terbuka Conducts New Student Orientation in Hong Kong and Taiwan

Universitas Terbuka Layanan Luar Negeri (UT-LLN) is a unit of Universitas Terbuka (UT) tasked with facilitating higher education services for all Indonesians living abroad and foreign nationals requiring higher education qualifications and capacity building.

Recently, UT-LLN conducted New Student Orientation (OSMB) programmes for the 2025/2026 academic semester across multiple international locations. At the Indonesian Consulate General (KJRI) in Hong Kong, 101 new students participated in the OSMB 2026 orientation, which was also streamed via Zoom, providing a welcoming space for students to begin planning their educational futures.

The Hong Kong event was attended by distinguished speakers including Clemens Triaji Bektikusuma, Cultural Information Consul of KJRI Hong Kong; Prof. Rahmat Budiman, Ph.D., Vice Rector for Academic Affairs and Student Services; Dr. Pardamean Daulay, Director of UT-LLN; and other officials.

Director Pardamean Daulay expressed appreciation for the substantial contributions of Astama Hong Kong and Perma Hong Kong in disseminating information about UT to Indonesian migrant workers in Hong Kong. Thanks to this support, UT-LLN student numbers in Hong Kong have shown positive growth. In the 2025 semester, 80 new students enrolled, whilst in 2026, enrolment increased to 101 students, bringing total active UT-LLN students in Hong Kong to 365.

“Welcome to our 101 new students. Thank you for entrusting your education to us. This is the right choice,” Daulay stated. “UT provides easy access to ensure that migrant workers’ rights, including access to higher education, remain protected,” he added.

Vice Rector Prof. Rahmat Budiman emphasised that studying at UT is not easy, particularly for migrant workers operating under high-intensity work schedules and limited time. However, he argued that these challenges can become pathways to success, emphasising the importance of discipline, time management, and balancing work, study, and rest. “I am proud that you are still thinking about your futures. The future belongs to those who prepare for it,” he stated.

In Taiwan, UT-LLN conducted its new student orientation on 1 March 2026 at the Indonesian Education Attaché Office (KDEI) in Taipei. This year, with support from the Universitas Terbuka Service Centre (SALUT) in Taiwan, the orientation combined online and in-person formats for optimal implementation.

The Taiwan event welcomed 344 new students and was attended by Dr. Meirani Harsasi, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business; Dr. Pardamean Daulay; Mohammad Fadhil Rasyidin Parinduri, Chairman of SALUT Taiwan; UT student organisations; and UT-LLN staff.

Mohammad Fadhil Rasyidin Parinduri addressed the theme of pursuing dreams and stepping outside comfort zones. “You have already made a major decision. In Taiwan, the pace is fast and deadlines wait for no one. If you want to develop, you must be prepared for discipline,” he stated.

Director Pardamean reported significant growth in UT-LLN enrolments. “From approximately 7,000 students in the previous semester, the new semester has reached 8,446 students,” he announced. Of these, 1,878 are new students in the 2025/2026 semester, including the 344 in Taiwan.

Dr. Meirani Harsasi highlighted the significance of students’ decision to pursue higher education whilst managing demanding work schedules and geographical distance from Indonesia. She emphasised that UT’s open and distance learning model provides unlimited opportunities for anyone to pursue higher education regardless of time and space constraints. “Success as a UT student depends on your own independence, discipline, and motivation,” she stated.

A separate OSMB programme for new students in the Middle East region was conducted online on 27 February 2026, attended by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Irfan Helmy, Education and Cultural Attaché of the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Prof. Dr. Paken Pandiangan, Vice Rector for Information Systems and Distance Learning, and Director of UT-LLN.

Prof. Dr. Paken Pandiangan confirmed that new students had chosen the right institution. UT is Indonesia’s 45th state higher education institution, established in 1984. The university holds an institutional accreditation of A, with most study programmes accredited as Excellent, A, or very good. “UT has also obtained international accreditation and recognition, including ISO, AAOU, and ICDE,” he noted.