Universitas Terbuka (UT, literally Open University) is Indonesia's state university. The university employs a Open and Distance Learning (ODL) system to widen access to higher education to all Indonesian citizens, including those who live in remote islands throughout the country, and in various parts of the world. It has a total student body of 1,045,665 (as of 2019/2020 according to Indonesia's Ministry of Education and Culture Higher Education database). According to a distance education institution in the UK, which published "The Top Ten Mega Universities", UT-3 ranks closely with universities from China and Turkey.

The Open University (UT) is the 45th State University in Indonesia which was inaugurated on September 4 1984. Aiming to overcome the explosion of high school graduates who could not be absorbed either in the world of work or higher education, the President at that time issued Presidential Decree of the Republic of Indonesia Number 41 of 1984 as the basis for the founding of UT. The establishment of UT was intended to answer two big issues in the world of education at that time, namely the low quality of teachers and the limited capacity of higher education. In line with the spirit of the open and distance education movement which began to resonate on the world stage through the establishment of The Open University in England, the Open University carries the spirit of equitable access to higher education on the national stage. The name "Open University", inspired by the nomenclature of The Open University in England, reflects the spirit promoted in implementing its education system, namely Open and Distance Education. Open represents the spirit of "brightening the life of the nation" which is contained in the preamble to the 1945 Constitution. This spirit is the philosophical basis that education is a right for every citizen that is not limited by age and period of study - nowadays it is often known as the spirit of "lifelong learning." life". This open spirit is also accompanied by the concept of distance education which makes it easier for anyone to get access to education without being limited by time and place. In its first year of existence, the Open University opened four undergraduate study programs (S1), which included Public Administration, Business Administration, Economics and Development Studies, and Statistics. Another type of study program, namely the education program, is a takeover of the Teacher Education Project tasks through Distance Learning with a new curriculum and teaching materials; Likewise with the Act V program which was taken over from an existing project. Currently, the Open University offers 49 study programs consisting of 36 undergraduate programs, 2 diploma programs, 9 master's programs and 2 doctoral programs. All of these study programs are housed in four faculties, namely the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP), the Faculty of Law, Social Sciences and Political Sciences (FHISIP), the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), and the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST). UT continues to innovate and maintain the quality of its education, as proven by achieving "A" accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Higher Education (BAN-PT) in 2024. In addition, UT succeeded in achieving international accreditation from the Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA) for four study program in 2024, confirming its position as a globally recognized higher education institution. UT also officially became a Legal Entity State University (PTNBH) in 2022, a significant achievement that strengthens its role as a pioneer of open and distance higher education in Indonesia. UT has also received international recognition with certification from the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) which has been obtained five times. This award shows that UT is not only focused on accessibility, but also on the globally recognized quality of distance education. On October 3 2024, UT received a "Certificate of Accreditation" from the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU), which further emphasizes UT's role asa leader in open education in Asia, as well as proof of excellence in distance education technology innovation. UT's achievements in the academic field are further strengthened by the success of its superior study programs. In 2024, the Master of Management (MM), Master of English Education, and Public Financial Accounting study programs will receive "Excellent" accreditation from the Independent Accreditation Institute for Economics, Management, Business and Accounting (LAMEMBA). This accreditation proves that UT not only prioritizes accessibility, but also the quality of education according to the highest national standards.

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:

1. to expand the opportunity for quality higher education through the distance education system;
2. to produce competent academicians and professionals who are able to compete globally;
3. to increase participation in continuing education in order to create a knowledge-based society;
4. to increase the quality and quantity of research and development in the distance education system, especially in distance higher education;
5. to innovatively and continuously disseminate and share information on distance education especially on distance higher education;
6. to strengthen national unity and integrity through the broad and equal provision of higher education;
7. to increase cross-cultural understanding and networking through local, national and global partnerships;
8. to produce academic products in distance higher education as well as in other fields of knowledge.

UT has been awarded the 'International Accreditation' and 'Certificate of Quality' by the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) Standard Agency (ISA), and ISO 9001:2000 by the Certification bodies, i.e. SAI Global and SGS. UT's study programs have also been accredited by The National Accreditation Board of Higher Education (BAN-PT).

Learning activities can be conducted at anywhere and any time.

Printed material (known as module) serves as the main learning medium, supplemented by non-printed materials such as recorded learning materials (audio video cassettes, CD, radio and TV), as well as computer-based learning materials (CAI and Internet based). 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 (BRI), Televisi Republik Indonesia (TVRI), Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI), 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 (BRI), PT Bank BNI (Bank Negara Indonesia), Garuda Indonesia, Merpati Nusantara, Ministry of Agriculture, Secretary of Vice President [id], and several other agencies.

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.

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 (Sarjana/S1) 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 (S2) are required to write Master Program's Final Assignment (a thesis) 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.

UT has 41 regional offices: 40 UPBJJ-UT and 1 PPM-LN. The UPBJJ-UT themselves are located in the capitals of each Indonesia 34 provinces in addition to 5 major cities of Bogor, Purwokerto, Surakarta, Jember, and Malang, in addition to the recently (re-)established UPBJJ in Dili, Timor Leste, in 2019, and the UT PPM-LN or foreign office. 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 (RRI).

At the national level, UT also has long standing collaborations with:

• 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.

UT has established partnerships with other institutions, including the Ministry of National Education, Ministry of Home Affairs, Navy, Ministry of Defense and Security, Ministry of Agriculture, Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI), Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), Garuda Indonesia, Merpati Nusantara, PT Pos Indonesia, Central Bureau for Statistics, PT Indosat, PT Tugu Pratama, National Coordinating Agency for Family Planning (BKKBN), and Al-Zaitun Islamic Boarding School, Bank Tabungan Negara (BTN), National Archives of Indonesia (ANRI), National Civil Service Agency (BKN), School of Business and Management (STEKPI), PT Jakarta Software Komunikasi and all provincial agencies, regencies and towns in Indonesia.

UT also has close relationships with various international organizations such as the South-East Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and SEAMEO Regional Open Learning Center(SEAMOLEC).

UT is one of the founding members of the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU), and the Global Mega-University Network (GMUNET). In addition UT is also an active member of the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE).

UT has four faculties and one graduate program that offer more than 40 active study programmes, including doctoral programmes (S3), master programmes (S2), bachelor programmes (Sarjana/S1), diploma programmes (D3 and D4), and certificate programmes.

Bachelor (S1) programmes

• Indonesian and Literature Education
• English Education
• Mathematics Education
• Physics Education
• Chemistry Education
• Biology Education
• Economics Education
• Pancasila and Civics Education
• Primary School Teacher Education
• Early Childhood Education Teacher
• Educational Technology

Certificate programmes

• Indonesian for Foreigners
• Public Administration of District Area

Bachelor (S1) programmes

• Public Administration
• Business Administration
• Government Studies
• Communication Science
• Sociology
• Law
• Library Science or Archive
• English Language and Literature Specialized in Translation Studies

Diploma 4(D4) program

• Public Administration

Diploma 3(D3) program

• Taxation

Bachelor (S1) programmes

• Economics Development
• Sharia Economy
• Management
• Accounting
• Tourism

Bachelor (S1) programmes

• Mathematics
• Statistics
• Biology
• Agribusiness, majoring in agricultural extension and communication/animal husbandry/fishery
• Food Technology and Science
• Urban and Regional Planning
• Information System

Master (S2) programmes

• Administration Science, majoring in public administration
• Management
• Marine Science, majoring in fishery management
• Mathematics Education
• English Education
• Primary Education
• Environment science

Doctoral (S3) programmes

• Management
• Public Administration

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.

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.

The Center for Research and Community Services of UT (LPPM-UT) has four centers:

• Center of Institutional Research and System Development
• Center of Science
• Center of Community Services
• Inter-University Center for Improving and Developing Instructional Activities (IUC-IDIA)

Research 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

Development of management information systems 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 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.

Development and Improvement of Instructions The Inter-University Center for Improving and Developing of Instructional Activities (IUC-IDIA) 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 (PEKERTI)
• Applied Approach (AA)
• 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 also provides consulting services for institution capacity building in education and training, particularly in the area of instructional activities and academic programs.

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 (e.g. Banking, department stores, supermarkets, etc.)

• (in Indonesian) University website
  • (in English) English version
• (in English) History
• UT regional offices address