UT and Manulife Indonesia Signed Cooperation Agreement for Equitable Education Across Indonesia

Quality education is very essential and the main focus for all the education institutions. Nonetheless, it is not only the quality that has to be assured, but also the equitable education that has to become the main focus. Indonesia is a vast country spread across from Sabang in the West to Merauke in the East. In fact, equitable education is quite challenging for all the education operators in Indonesia.

Universitas Terbuka (UT) has always endeavored to reach out the unreached, providing the highest opportunity for all levels of the society in its efforts to give education opportunity for all the people. The chance to continue study to a higher education for all is not only within the context of hindering distance, but also for the people with special disability. UT collaborates with Manulife Indonesia with respect to the provision of scholarships for the students with special disability (hearing impairment disability). In total, there are 20 students from UPBJJ-UT Jakarta who have previously been selected as the awardees of such scholarships. Manulife Indonesia donates the sum of USD 15,000 in form of full scholarships for the duration of 8 (eight) semesters to all the 20 impaired students.

On Wednesday (29/06/2022), the signing of the Cooperation Agreement (PKS) by UT and Manulife was done offline which took venue at the Manulife Indonesia Head Office at Sampoerna Strategic Square Building, South Tower 3A Floor. The Agreement was signed by UT’s Vice Rector for Institutional Development and Partnership, Rahmat Budiman, S.S., M.Hum., Ph.D., together with the members of the Board of Directors of Manulife Indonesia, who are Director Compliance Manulife Indonesia, Apriliani T. Siregar, and Director & Chief Employee Benefits and Syariah Distribution Manulife Indonesia, Karjadi Pranoto. There were also present Director of UPBJJ UT-Jakarta, Ir. Edward Zubir, M.M., Head of Branding, Creative & Marketing Campaign Manulife Indonesia, Sentot Aryawan Sasongko, as well as Head of Corporate Communication, CSR & Broadcasting Manulife Indonesia, Ruthania Martinelly. The representatives of the scholarship recipients were present as 2 (two) students with special needs were attending the event and accompanied by the Boy scout Chief of North Jakarta Branch, H. R. Budi Sulistiono. In the opening of the program, President Director & CEO Manulife Indonesia, Ryan Charland, had the opportunity to be there and had a photo session as well as meet and greet UT’s Vice Rector for Institutional Development and Partnership, Rahmat Budiman together with the 2 (two) awardee students. Subsequently, the cooperation agreement was then signed by both parties.

According to Apriliani T. Siregar, the scholarship program with UT is one Manulife Indonesia’s effort to give an inclusive education access in order to create better and more equal opportunity for all people. This is one form of Manulife Indonesia’s commitments to respect the rights of every person to get a better future. Apriliani also added that the foundation of the scholarship program for the students is the pillar of Global Impact Agenda that Manulife Indonesia has campaigned. In his remarks, Rahmat Budiman expressed his most sincere appreciation and gratitude for the readiness and hospitality offered by Manulife Indonesia for welcoming the UT’s representatives who were present as invitees.

Rahmat Budiman stated that UT has always strived to reach out whoever is not unreached. Therefore, the scholarship awarded to the students is expected to provide better opportunity, not only for the 20 student awardees but also to set an example and create an inspiration for the prospective students who have special needs. That all people have every right and can get high and quality higher education. Apart from extending gratitude and congratulation to the student representatives who were present, Rahmat Budiman advised them, "This scholarship is not a present, and, instead, this is a mandate and trust shared to all of you. Prove it that you can to your parents, friends, all the people. Be the inspiration and example with your study in UT, all people have the right to get the same opportunity."

The event was concluded with meet and greet as well as photo session. The collaboration with Manulife Indonesia is UT’s real step to provide the highest opportunity to all the prospective students in Indonesia, especially those who have special needs. In Indonesia, there are many conditions that the prospective students are suffering from which may preclude them from pursuing higher education. UT has always attempted to respond and open up the path to respond to this challenge. UT’s mission in providing higher education for all the people is without exclusion, and it is always carried out with highly committed efforts. By this scholarship award, UT hopes that all the prospective students with special needs who would like to pursue higher education do not have to be discouraged as UT will always provide the solution for the sake of promoting education in our homeland.