The university employs a Open and Distance Learning (ODL) system to widen access to higher education to all Indonesian citizens, including those who live in remote islands throughout the country, and in various parts of the world.

UT also officially became a Legal Entity State University (PTNBH) in 2022, a significant achievement that strengthens its role as a pioneer of open and distance higher education in Indonesia.

On October 3 2024, UT received a "Certificate of Accreditation" from the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU), which further emphasizes UT's role asa leader in open education in Asia, as well as proof of excellence in distance education technology innovation.

[4] UT has been awarded the 'International Accreditation' and 'Certificate of Quality' by the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) Standard Agency (ISA), and ISO 9001:2000 by the Certification bodies, i.e. SAI Global and SGS.

To support their operations, each UPBJJ-UT establishes close collaboration with various institutions, particularly with: At the national level, UT also has long standing collaborations with: UT has established partnerships with other institutions, including the Ministry of National Education, Ministry of Home Affairs, Navy, Ministry of Defense and Security, Ministry of Agriculture, Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI), Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), Garuda Indonesia, Merpati Nusantara, PT Pos Indonesia, Central Bureau for Statistics, PT Indosat, PT Tugu Pratama, National Coordinating Agency for Family Planning (BKKBN), and Al-Zaitun Islamic Boarding School, Bank Tabungan Negara (BTN), National Archives of Indonesia (ANRI), National Civil Service Agency (BKN), School of Business and Management (STEKPI), PT Jakarta Software Komunikasi and all provincial agencies, regencies and towns in Indonesia.

UT is one of the founding members of the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU), and the Global Mega-University Network (GMUNET).

In addition, UT staffs have extensive experience in distributing printed materials to districts in Sumatera, Java, Bali, and West Nusa Tenggara.