Page 226 - Universitas Terbuka Center of Excellence In Asia 2010 and The World 2020 (A Journey Towards a Leading Open and Distance Education Institution 1984-2008)

achieving the ISO 9001:2000 certificate, the quality management system should
be used as a trigger to continually improve the learning material services to the

students , and could positively bring about constructive effects for overall
development of UT.

Conclu sion

The UT management system , including registration, distribution, and

evaluation functions, and the subsystem of learning materials and examination,
is completely under the control of UT because they are handled by the units and

human resources directly controlled by UT. However, the UT cannot totally
control the learning process subsystem performed by the students. In the context

of distance learning which requires the students' independent learning, the
students are autonomous in determining and conducting their own activities -

starting from learning the materials, working on assignments , solving their
learning problems and difficulties, forming study groups, organizing time and
places, and selecting the learning strategy - by referring to the course materials

that have been designed and specially prepared by UT. However, learner

independence does not mean that UT let the students face their learning process
on their own. The UT provides assistance and learning support and services

needed by the students, such as various modes of tutorials, counseling,
academic guidance, and giving evaluation feedback to the students .

In accordance with the UT vision 2010 to become one of the centers of
excellence in Asia in ~he practice, research, development and information
dissemination, the UT. continually reengineer and improve its system and

subsystem in order to achieve its stated vision. The reengineering and

improvement of the quality standards have been established and maintained
through the use of a set of documented manuals and procedures through the

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