"The ICE Institute has now collaborated with XuetangX.com that Tsinghua University initiated," Prof. Nizam, a top official at the Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Ministry, noted in a statement here Tuesday.
As a result, Indonesia's university students could freely access course modules taught at Tsinghua University, Nizam, acting Director General of Higher Education, Research and Technology at the ministry, remarked.
All course materials that ICE Institute provides can also be accessed by students and the public freely, he noted, adding that COVID-19 had taught academic communities about the need for online learning platforms.
One of the online learning platforms that can be accessed at any time and from anywhere is provided by ICE Institute, a platform jointly developed by Universitas Terbuka (UT) and 14 other universities in Indonesia, he stated.
The professor expects the collaboration between ICE Institute and XuetangX.com to provide the people at large in Indonesia with free access to quality distance learning materials.
Through ICE Institute, the universities' teaching staff remain able to guide their students and ensure that they really study, Nizam stated.
Rapid developments in technology occurring worldwide, including artificial intelligence (AI), pose challenges to humankind, but efforts need to be directed on how AI, for instance, can optimally be used for the greater good in education, he stated.
"How to optimize the use of AI for good intentions for humanity and not for destroying humankind," Nizam remarked.
Meanwhile, Universitas Terbuka Rector Prof. Ojat Darojat, said that ICE Institute has been working with XuetangX since 2022. Several collaborative activities include exchanging course materials, joint development of courses, exchange of experts, and joint training.
Director of Tsinghua University's Online Education Center Xiaoxiao Wang said Tsinghua's online learning platform has existed and got developed since a decade ago.
The distance learning that Indonesia's Universitas Terbuka (Open University) has developed is remarkable enough that it has attracted Tsinghua University to work together to make a joint online learning effort, Wang remarked.
The presence of Tsinghua's online learning platform has not merely been accessed by people in China but also in different parts of the world, Wang added.
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Translator: Indriani, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Sri Haryati
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