Page 77 - Reimagining Higher Education : Case Studies On Designing For Inclusion, Equity, And Access In The Buka Project

A. Susilo et al. · UTAKSES case study: Advancing digital access for students living in remote

areas without reliable internet - Universitas Terbuka, Indonesia

An o ine internet server is a device that enables users to access digital
content without requiring an internet connection. These devices typically store

web pages, educational materials, and other digital content on a local network,

making them accessible to users within that network. E orts to make internet
access available o ine may not be new. Since the beginning of internet

development, some groups, especially in developing countries, have been trying to

find solutions for access to internet content while o ine. Such e orts include
simple email backups, SMS, WhatsApp, and more complex activities such as

downloading songs, movies, files, PDFs, ebooks, etc.
In the UTAKSES case study, the focus was on making educational content

accessible o ine. The UT initiative builds on the work of a small number of state
institutions and non-governmental organisations that have made similar e orts

with the aid of various o ine internet support technologies (Daryono et al., 2022).

Certainly more needs to be done in this area, with only a handful of institutions and
research teams in the world trying to provide solutions for areas with scarce

internet access (Daryono et al., 2022). Therefore, UT is developing an o ine
internet system for students residing in remote areas with limited

telecommunications and internet networks.

The UT BUKA aims to develop a local hotspot in five areas on Java Island
where students are located, in order to enable them to access UT’s online support

services. The project has also developed an associated learning design model that is
adapted to low bandwidth capacity. The pilots have been installed in five di erent

locations on Java Island that can be reached by land transportation due to the

limitations of air transportation during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the
pilots are focused on the following: 1) assessing the online learning needs of UT

students living in remote areas; 2) developing adaptive learning design models and
strategies; 3) designing the business model and governance of the local hotspot

services; and 4) evaluating the useability and performance of the pilot o ine local
hotspot services.

75