Established in 2013, Surya University is a private educational institution positioned at the forefront of research and innovation in Indonesia. Under the guidance of founder Prof. Yohanes Surya, PhD – a name synonymous with the advancement of education for his work as a physicist and longstanding coach of the hugely successful Indonesian Physics Olympiad Team – the university has quickly asserted itself as the future of Indonesia’s tertiary education sector, driven by a faculty of highly motivated doctorate degree holders already regarded as global leaders in their fields.
In distinguishing itself within a market soon to benefit from a young demographic increasingly drawn to the advantages of an international standard education, Surya University proactively addresses issues that have long hampered the development of skilled human resources in Indonesia. In addition to advancing Indonesia’s currently lack lustre capacity for scientific research through the introduction of more than 75 on campus research centres; the university prioritises collaboration with government organisations and private sector companies. This ensures that they readily anticipate industry demand and areas most in need of talented graduates with the potential to become leaders of business and academia. A keen understanding on what Indonesia needs to become a mature economy manifests itself in the provision of highly specialised programs on subjects such as plantation agribusiness, biotechnology and environmental engineering.
Going forward, Surya University in 2015 will mark the next phase of its ascent to the top of the higher education sector with the opening of its new ultramodern campus in Serpong. The university also intends to further its local presence by reaching out to lesser served parts of the archipelago and offering full scholarships to the country’s most talented students; thereby building a strong nationwide human resources base prepared to contribute to Indonesia’s development.
Year of Establishment: 2013
Type: Private Institution
Number of Students: > 1,200
Number of Faculty Members: 300 PhDs, 90 full time
Facilities: 79 Research Centres, Hydraulics Laboratory, Technology Development Laboratory, Electric Laboratory, Control System Laboratory, Ergonomic Laboratory
As part of its goal of becoming a leading educational institution on the global stage, Surya University is active in cooperating with universities based in the United States and Australia such as Harvard and the University of Queensland. In doing so, the university provides its faculty members with insights into technology otherwise unavailable in Indonesia as well as opens the door for its researchers to conduct studies with esteemed colleagues abroad. In adapting knowledge gained through partnerships with foreign universities, Surya University has also worked with embassies to offer its expertise in implementing eco-friendly concepts during the construction of new offices. The university is now interested in forming ties with international entities for the purpose of student exchanges and joint research opportunities.
Surya University taps into its extensive national network at the provincial and village level to reach out to lesser served parts of Indonesia and host educational programs for communities unable to access international standard curriculum in math, reading and writing. Such programs have seen the university quickly establish a broad sphere of influence that encompasses the breadth of Indonesia from Sumatra to Papua. To best prepare students for careers in major local and multinational businesses and carry out research with tangible benefits for business in Indonesia, Surya University also partners with private sector players, and to date has collaborated extensively with Bank Mandiri, Samsung, Bank Rakyat Indonesia, Tempo Media Group and Indomaret.