North Kalimantan Governor Officiated New Building of UPBJJ-UT Tarakan

As one effort to improve the quality of services and accessibility, especially in North Kalimantan Province and its vicinity, Universitas Terbuka (UT) has built the office of Distance Education Program Unit of Universitas Terbuka Tarakan (UPBJJ-UT Tarakan). The building is located at Jl. Mulawarman No.234, Karang Anyar, Tarakan Barat, the City of Tarakan and has been officially inaugurated.

The inauguration of UPBJJ-UT Tarakan building was held with the theme “Accessing Higher Education to Remote Areas” on Monday, 23 August 2021. It was attended by Drs. Zainal Arifin Paliwang, S.H., M.Hum., the Governor of North Kalimantan. There were also present Rahmat Budiman, S.S., M. Hum., Ph.D., the UT Vice Rector of Institutional Development and Partnership and Rahmaddian, S.E., M.M. the Director of UPBJJ-UT Tarakan. The Spokesperson of the Provincial People’s House of Representatives (DPRD) North Kalimantan, Norhayati Andris who is one of the UT alumni, Rector of Universitas Borneo Tarakan, Prof. Dr. Adri Patton, M.Si., dr. H. Khairul M.Kes, as the Mayor of the City of Tarakan, and all the Deputy Regencies in North Kalimantan as well as Head of Human Resources Bureau of National Police Headquarter of North Kalimantan were also present in the inauguration.

The UPBJJ-UT Tarakan new building was inaugurated symbolically by pressing the sirene button, ribbon cutting ceremony and signing of inscription by Governor North Kalimantan accompanied by the UT Vice Rector for Institutional Development and Partnership and Director UPBJJ-UT Tarakan. In the same occasion, the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was held between UT and all the regency and city governments in North Kalimantan.

Director of UPBJJ-UT Tarakan in his remarks stated that the inauguration of the new building is in line with the mandate of the Indonesian government, that it would provide Higher Education services to all the social strata without exception to those of living in Underdeveloped, Foremost, and Outermost Regions (3T). In order to realize it, UT continues to strive to expand the accessibility to its services. “We are not only making UT buildings, but also synergizing with the government of the province and all the local governments in North Kalimantan”.

UT Rector, Prof. Ojat Darojat, M.Bus., Ph.D., followed the inauguration online from UT Head Office in Pondok Cabe, Tangerang Selatan. Via Zoom Meeting, UT Rector expressed his appreciation to all parties involved actively in the construction of the UT new building in Tarakan. He also hopes that the relationship between UT and the governments of the province and all regencies and cities in North Kalimantan can be further strengthened and synergized. “I hope that the presence of UT new building in Tarakan and the execution of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the governments of all the regencies and cities in North Kalimantan, would further promote UT’s roles for the sake of the people in North Kalimantan in performing the mandates of the government in order to open up the access to quality and flexible university in order to support human resources development in North Kalimantan”.

Governor of North Kalimantan in his remarks expressed his hope that the presence of the UT’s new building would strengthen UT Tarakan in providing quality Higher Education to the people of North Kalimantan. He feels proud that UT Tarakan has significantly contributed to human resources development in North Kalimantan. It is proven by the establishment of UPBJJ-UT Tarakan five years ago, which has considerably increased the gross enrollment rate of Higher Education in North Kalimantan region. As one form of focused attention on education in the North Kalimantan region, Governor will provide scholarships to higher level of education for the students who graduate with cum laude.

May, with the inauguration of the UT new building and the signing of MoU between UT and all the regencies and cities throughout North Kalimantan, the number of UT students be increased and the university produce highly qualified graduates that can contribute to the development of North Kalimantan.