Page 341 - Universitas Terbuka Center of Excellence In Asia 2010 and The World 2020 (A Journey Towards a Leading Open and Distance Education Institution 1984-2008)

opportunities for the society to participate in higher education in accordance

with the idea of higher education for all . UT should play more active and
constructive role in mobilizing activities of existing non-profit, non-

government, multilateral , international, regional and national organizations in
distance education, such as International Council for Open and Distance

Education (ICDE) , Global Mega-University Network (GMUNET), Asian
Association of Open Universities (AAOU) , Southeast Asian Ministers of

Education Organization Open Learning Centre (SEAMEO SEAMOLEC), United
Nations Education , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Asosiasi

Profesi Pendidik-an Jarak Jauh Indonesia (APPJI), and other relevant
organizations. Professional organization is an effective forum to compare

quality and share experience of best practices. Leadership and excellence of
a distance education institution will be put to the test through its active

participation in mobilizing the organization. UT has gained its strong
foundation because it has taken initiatives and real actions, such as being

the mastermind and founder of some of the organizations. Through those
organizations, image development and public communication will be more

effective to increase knowledge and awareness of the society about roles and
contributions of distance education institutions in social and economic

development and quality human resource development through participation
in distance higher education institutions.

7. Recognition of programs, subjects, and credit transfer among distance

education institutions. Distance education institutions are challenged to work
together in order to ease the process of credit transfer, recognition of title ,
program, and subject so that it can provide better flexibility for students to

join programs at different institutions. It requires serious effort from distance

education institutions continually improve their quality so that equality with
other similar institution can be achieved . Recognition of programs or subjects

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