Surya University’s success as a research driven institution is made possible through its ability to identify and attract talented human resources to take upon roles at the university as lecturers, professors and research associates. Cognizant of Indonesia’s ongoing struggle with a brain drain that has seen the brightest minds move abroad in search of better resources, Surya University provides its faculty with the tools and funding to carry out pioneering research and as of early 2014 had already brought in 300 doctorate degree holders; 90 of whom support the university in a full time capacity. The university now plans to build upon this achievement by expanding their faculty to include more than 1,000 members with PhDs prior to end of 2015, and has set about further developing its research facilities in anticipation of this with the construction of a new, state of the art campus in Sentul, Bogor.

Surya University draws upon the diverse talents of winners of international science Olympiads in the life sciences, leading industry practitioners in the fields of energy, economics, agribusiness, biotechnology, ICT and neuroscience as well as doctorate degree holders from prestigious international universities. In striving to hire only the most qualified candidates across a broad spectrum of academic fields, the university distinguishes itself within a tertiary education sector in which less than half of the 220,000 lecturers have doctorate degrees. An unwavering commitment to investing in the highest standard of teaching is to stand the university in good stead as an influential force in Indonesia’s continued economic and social development, renowned for its provision of an academic environment in which the next generation of great minds are able to fulfil their potential.

The Surya University approach to advancing education in Indonesia centres not only on providing PhD degree holders with the space to carry out research, but also on nurturing talent in all parts of the vast archipelago. As a means of ensuring that Indonesia will not be lacking for doctorate degree candidates in the future, Surya University in collaboration with the Surya Institute carries out programs to actively reach out to lesser developed parts of the country to identify gifted students upon taking the time to teach basic maths, reading and writing in a given community. Children determined to have demonstrated potential as future scholars and PhD candidates are offered the opportunity to immediately continue their education at Surya University and make the most of their potential under the careful guidance of the university’s experienced teachers.

The scale of this initiative to make available full scholarships to children that represent the future of Indonesian academics and industry requires substantial investment, and as such Surya University has in the past collaborated with local governments as well as private sector companies looking for worthy avenues to fulfil their corporate social responsibilities. Going forward, the university hopes to forge more partnerships of this variety to provide all of Indonesia’s most talented individuals with the chance to receive a first rate education.