Ever wondered how the first private university in the Riau Islands came to be? It started with a vision and some land. The Universitas Riau Kepulauan, or UNRIKA, has a story that begins well before it officially became a university.
In 1992, the Batam Higher Education Foundation was founded. Its mission was simple. It wanted to establish and manage universities on Batam Island. Then, in 1993, the foundation established two schools. These were the Batam College of Economics and the Batam College of Engineering. They were the first of their kind in Batam City.
Crucially, Prof. BJ Habibie assisted the foundation. He was the Chair of the Batam Authority at the time. He helped the Batam Higher Education Foundation get 3 hectares of campus land in the Batuaji area.
For years, these colleges thrived. They grew and developed. By 2006, times were changing. A new vision for higher education emerged. So, the Batam College of Economics, the Batam College of Engineering, and STKIP Batam merged. This merger formed the Universitas Riau Kepulauan. The official decree was issued by Dikti. It was numbered 68 / D / 0/2006 and 68 / D / T / 2006.
Today, Universitas Riau Kepulauan houses five faculties. These are Economics, Engineering, Teacher Training and Education, Law, and Social and Political Sciences. UNRIKA is under the guidance of Kopertis Region X. This region includes Padang, Jambi, Riau, and the Riau Islands.
Many leaders have shaped UNRIKA. Dr. H. Amarullah Nasution was the first rector, from 2006 to 2011. Prof. Dr, H. Zainuddin followed him. He served from 2011 to 2016. Later rectors include Prof. Dr. H. Nasruddin Harahap and Edwin Agung Wibowo. The current rector is Prof. Hj. Dr. Sri Langgeng Ratnasari.
Universitas Riau Kepulauan is more than just buildings and classrooms. It has various centers and institutions. These include the PS Lingkungan Hidup and the PS Aids & Narkotika. There is also a PS Anti Korupsi.
Student life at Universitas Riau Kepulauan is vibrant. Panggung Sang Pemula is a central hub for student activities. Students organize music events and more there. The university also has many student organizations. BEM UNRIKA is a central student body. It was formed in 2006. It acts as the executive body for student affairs. There are also many student activity units. These include a radio station, a nature club, and a campus ministry.
Universitas Riau Kepulauan holds a place of honor. It ranks 314th in Indonesia. It is the top university in the Riau Islands Province. From its humble beginnings as two colleges, UNRIKA has grown. It now offers 14 undergraduate programs and two postgraduate programs. Universitas Riau Kepulauan is committed to excellence. It strives to be superior, creative, and independent.