The AAOU Accreditation Team presents the Certificate of Accreditation to UT Rector Ojat Darojat, M.Bus., Ph.D., and UT officials, marking the successful completion of the accreditation pilot at Universitas Terbuka.
The Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) launched the second pilot run of its QA-based Accreditation System for Technology-Enhanced and Technology-Mediated Higher Education at Universitas Terbuka (UT) in South Tangerang, Indonesia, from 1-3 October 2024. Spearheaded by UPOU Chancellor Melinda dela Peña Bandalaria, the initiative aims to enhance quality assurance in higher education across Asia.
Chancellor Bandalaria was joined by Prof. Li Kam Cheong from Hong Kong Metropolitan University, serving as the International Expert; Prof. Drs. T. Basaruddin from Indonesia’s National Accreditation Agency for Higher Education, serving as the Local Expert; and Ms. Shaira Tanay, the Writer-Researcher for the AAOU Accreditation System, serving as the AAOU Accreditation Coordinator.
Day 1: Opening and Initial Discussions
UT Vice Rector Rahmat Budiman welcomed the AAOU accreditation team, expressing honor in being selected for the second pilot run of the accreditation system. Budiman believes this process will reflect UT’s commitment to meet the highest standards as it adapts to the evolving global educational landscape.
UT Vice Rector Rahmat Budiman delivers his welcome address during the opening ceremony of the AAOU accreditation pilot at Universitas Terbuka.
In her opening remarks, Chancellor Bandalaria emphasized that this accreditation effort benefits not only UT and UPOU but also the entire community engaged in open and distance learning. She noted that this initiative aims to enhance the quality of higher education throughout the region.
UPOU Chancellor Melinda dela Peña Bandalaria delivers her opening remarks at the AAOU accreditation pilot run.
Following the opening ceremony, the AAOU Accreditation Team discussed with the University Executive Management Committee to evaluate Criterion 1: Vision, Mission, Management, and Planning and Criterion 2: Leadership and Strategic Management. The team examined how UT’s vision and mission are integrated into its strategic planning and leadership practices.
The AAOU Accreditation Team with the UT university officials during the opening ceremony
The accreditation team met with various groups in the afternoon to review additional criteria. They discussed with the Group Strategic Planning team, the Centre for Learner Affairs, and the Centre for Teaching and Learning Management to assess Criterion 3: Learners and Learner Support. Meetings with Group Human Resources and Administrative Services focused on Criterion 4: Human Resources Development and Management. Later sessions with Faculty Deans and academic staff reviewed Criterion 5: Program Design and Development and Criterion 6: Course Design and Development. A final session with the Testing Management Center (Pusjian) addressed Criterion 7: Learner Assessment. These discussions provided a comprehensive review of UT’s strategies for effectively supporting learners and managing its human resources.
Day 2: Webinar and Facility Visits
On the second day, the AAOU Accreditation Team evaluated UT’s operational infrastructure. They assessed Criterion 8: Infrastructure and Learning Resources with various departments, focusing on resource management. For Criterion 9: Research Management, the team reviewed practices with the Centre for Research and key officials. The day they concluded with Criterion 10: Community Involvement, discussing UT’s outreach efforts with the Centre for Community Service and other units.
Alongside the accreditation sessions, a webinar hosted by the Asosiasi Profesi Pendidikan Jarak Jauh Indonesia (APPJJI) took place, featuring UPOU Chancellor Bandalaria as one of the keynote speakers. The webinar, titled “The Urgency and Challenges of Accrediting Open and Distance Higher Education Institutions,” aimed to explore the key issues related to accreditation in the context of distance learning.
UPOU Chancellor Bandalaria with Accreditation Team members and webinar speakers, including moderator Dr. Irsanti Widuri Asih and UT Vice Rector Rahmat Budiman.
After the webinar, the team continued their evaluation with onsite visits to critical areas of the institution, including the Multimedia Learning Materials Production, ICT Centre (DSI), UT Library, and the Learning Materials Management Center. These site visits provided the team with a firsthand understanding of how UT manages its multimedia learning materials, ICT infrastructure, and library resources, which are crucial for accreditation.
Accreditation Team visiting UT’s Multimedia Learning Materials Production
Accreditation Team visiting UT’s ICT Centre (DSI)
Accreditation Team visiting UT’s Library.
Accreditation Team visiting UT’s Multimedia Learning Materials Production.
Day 3: Site Visits and Accreditation Results
On the final day of the accreditation process, the team visited the UT Regional Office – Bogor, where Learning Centre Managers provided a detailed briefing on the center’s operations and a guided tour of its facilities.
The Accreditation Team visited the UT Regional Office – Bogor for a briefing and guided tour of the facilities.
During this visit, the team also conducted a consultative session with UT students and alumni, allowing for a more holistic evaluation of the institution’s learner engagement and support mechanisms.
The accreditation team engages with UT students and alumni during a consultative session at the UT Regional Office in Bogor.
The AAOU Accreditation Team coordinated their findings in the afternoon and finalized their evaluation. They provided a quantitative assessment of UT’s performance across all the criteria, alongside key observations. The team commended UT for its strengths and exemplary practices while identifying specific areas for improvement. Strategic recommendations outlined actionable steps and timelines for enhancing the institution’s quality.
Since this was the inaugural pilot run, Academic Quality Assurance at Kantor Penjaminan Mutu (KPM) [translates to Quality Assurance Office] provided crucial feedback to refine the AAOU Accreditation System instrument and process.
Dr. Irsanti Widuri Asih, as Manager of Academic Quality Assurance at KPM, providing feedback on the AAOU Accreditation System instrument and process
Closing Ceremony and Awarding
The event culminated in the awarding of the Certificate of Accreditation. In his closing speech, UT Rector Ojat Darojat, M.Bus., Ph.D., expressed gratitude to the AAOU Accreditation Team and stated that UT is proud to have been part of the pilot run. He reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to maintaining the standards set by the accreditation system and integrating the feedback received to continue providing high-quality, accessible education throughout the Indonesian archipelago and internationally.
UT Rector Ojat Darojat, M.Bus., Ph.D., delivers his closing remarks at the accreditation pilot run closing ceremony.
The three-day event concluded with a farewell dinner at the UT Gazebo, marking the successful completion of the second pilot run of the AAOU Accreditation System.
This pilot run, led by UPOU Chancellor Bandalaria, reflects AAOU’s commitment to raising quality standards in higher education, providing a valuable model for other institutions across the region. The next pilot run is scheduled for 5-7 November 2024 at UPOU.
For further details about the AAOU Accreditation System, please contact the AAOU Secretariat at [email protected].
Written by Shaira Tanay ♦ Edited by Dr. Myra C. Almodiel
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