Ever wondered how a university could embody the spirit of a nation? That’s Universitas Atmajaya. It stands as a testament to faith, education, and Indonesian culture. Universitas Atmajaya, also known as Unika Atma Jaya, was founded on June 1, 1960. The Atma Jaya Foundation established it.
The phrase “Atma Jaya” signifies a glorious spirit. This spirit encourages the increase of education quality. Academic excellence and professional graduates are the eminent orientation of Universitas Atmajaya.
The idea to establish a Catholic university in Indonesia arose in 1952. Bishops of Java proposed it during a meeting in Jakarta. In response, young Catholic intellectuals formed the Atma Jaya Foundation.
Initially, the Ursuline Sisters supported Unika Atma Jaya. They lent classrooms in their school complexes. These were on Jalan Lapangan Banteng Utara and in Santa Theresia complex in Menteng.
Since 1967, Atma Jaya gradually occupied a permanent campus. It is located on Jalan Sudirman. This campus is well known as the Semanggi Campus. The Faculty of Medicine, Atma Jaya Hospital, and the Atma Jaya funeral home occupy the Pluit Campus in North Jakarta. A new campus is located in Tangerang. It is planned as the main campus for undergraduate students.
The university has eight faculties. These include Economics and Business. Also included are Administration Science, Education, and Engineering. The Law, Medicine, Psychology, and Biotechnology faculties are included as well.
Atma Jaya offers 17 programs for bachelor’s degrees. Postgraduate programs include master’s degrees in Management and Applied English Linguistics. A doctoral degree is offered in applied English linguistics.
In 2008, GlobeAsia Magazine ranked Atma Jaya third among Indonesian private universities. Tempo magazine surveys from 2005 to 2007 placed Atma Jaya in the top ten. The General Directorate of Higher Education lists Atma Jaya among 50 Promising Indonesian Universities. This is out of 2864 institutions in Indonesia.
Pope John Paul II visited Atma Jaya on October 12, 1989. One of its main buildings was named after Karol Wojtyła.
The founders of Atma Jaya included notable figures. Ir. J.P. Cho, Ir. Lo Siang Hien-Ginting, and Drs. Goei Tjong Tik were among them. Also included were I.J. Kasimo and J.B. Legiman S.H.
Atma Jaya cooperates with foreign universities. These partnerships facilitate student and lecturer exchanges. They also support scholarships and joint research. Partners include universities in the USA, Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea. Universities in Taiwan, Australia, the Netherlands and Germany are partners too.
So, as you stand here at Universitas Atmajaya, remember its history. Recall its commitment to education and its glorious spirit. Universitas Atmajaya is more than just a university. It is a symbol of Indonesia’s aspirations.