Managing Biological Experiments at Universitas Terbuka, Indonesia: A Case Study at UPBJJ Bogor

Biology is a branch of Natural Science which studies living organisms and how they interact with their environment. Hence, biology is closely related to experimental activities. These experiments aim at strengthening students’ understanding on the materials taught in tutorials by applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating the theories, both in laboratories and in the real world. As an educational institution which provides distance learning programs, UT offers courses that involve experiments, such as biological experiment which is already integrated in the Bachelor Degree Program in Biology Science at the Faculty of Mathematic and Natural Sciences (known as FMIPA), and in Biology Education at the Faculty of Education (known as FKIP). While the Experiment Guide Book are developed by FMIPA and FKIP, the students of both study programs are recruited by UT’s Regional Center (known as UPBJJ). UPBJJ, in addition, is also responsible for managing these experiment activities. Unfortunately, UPBJJ does not have its own laboratory facilities and instructors. Therefore, the Biological experiments at UPBJJ Bogor (one of the 37 UT’s Regional Centers) are conducted in collaboration with a partner institution, which is Universitas Pakuan (UNPAK).This collaboration offers some advantages for both side: UT would be able to carry out experiments without having to build new and costly laboratory facility; the partner institutions would enjoy some added values by interacting with more students; and the students would benefit from a richer learning experience. So far, there is a difference in the way they collaborate with their partner. FMIPA cooperates directly with UNPAK, while FKIP collaborates indirectly with the same partner institution through UPBJJ Bogor. By evaluating and comparing the management of the two basis of the collaboration agreement, similarities and differences, in term of roles and responsibilities of the involved parties in the collaboration with the partner, were observed. Eventhough, some problems were found in the management such as a difficulty for UPBJJ to recruit a certain number of students which register same courses, or a difficulty for UNPAK to conduct certain experiment since the guide book is not designed for UNPAK facilities only, however in general, the biological experiments at UPBJJ Bogor, is able to be conducted/managed properly