Page 189 - Open and Distance Education In Asia : Good Practice From AAOU Members

Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) 169

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Universitas Terbuka was established as an open
university fully applying ODE system to increase the
qualification of in-service teachers and to expand

access for higher education in Indonesia.

(Belawati and Bandalaria, 2018). The first two Increasing teachers’ qualification was
are public universities while the third one is a considered very important as the
private university. However, as a result of the Government believes that the key element
COVID-19 pandemic, other institutions have to improve education quality was through
now begun offering online distance learning the enhancement of teacher quality. The
courses at a considerable level. fact that there were both a shortage in the
number of teachers and uneven distribution
Universitas Terbuka was established on of teachers throughout Indonesia forced the
September 4 ,1984 and launched by the Government to look for an upgrading system
th
President of Indonesia as an open university that would not require them to leave their
fully applying ODE system. UT was founded teaching duties at schools. The option was
with two specific mandates, which are to establish a distance education institution
to increase the qualification of in-service to provide mass-education for upgrading the
teachers and to expand access for higher qualification of those practicing teachers.
education in Indonesia. By the year 2019, This is the mandate that was given by the
the university offered more than 43 study Government to UT since its inception,
programs attended by more than 350.000 forming the Faculty of Education and Teacher
students, which secured UT to be in the list of Training (FKIP). FKIP was and still is dedicated
Mega Universities of the world (Belawati and only admits practicing in-service teachers as
Bandalaria, 2018). UT students’ profile was its students.
initially dominated by practicing teachers
and working adults but has in the past several Expanding access to higher education is
years changed toward younger adults with another important and strategic issue for
various professions. the Government of Indonesia. Therefore,
to open a wider opportunity for high school

Universitas Terbuka (UT)