Universitas Nasional


Universitas Nasional is the oldest private university in Jakarta and the second oldest in Indonesia. It was founded by several Indonesian scholars on October 15, 1949, as Akademi Nasional.

History

Founding and early history

Universitas Nasional was founded on October 15, 1949 at the initiative of Indonesian scholars gathered in the Association of Advancing Science and Culture. The founders included Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana, R. Teguh Suhardho Sastrosoewignjo, Soedjono Hardjosoediro, Prof. Sarwono Prawirohardjo, Prajitno Soewondo, Hazil, Kwari Kartabrata, Prof. Dr. R. M. Djoehana Wiradikarta, R. M. Soebagio, Ny. Noegroho, Dr. Adam Bachtiar, Dr. Bahder Djohan, Dr. Johannes Leimena, Ir. Abd Karim, Prof. Dr. Soetomo Tjokronegoro, Ali Budiharjo, Poerwodarminta, Soetikno, Ir. TH. A. Resink, Dr. Soemitro Djojohadikoesoemo, Noegroho, Soejatmiko, HB Jassin, Mochtar Avin, L. Damais, M. Akbar Djoehana, Miss Boediardjo, and Miss Roekmini Singgih.
Courses led by Dr. Adam Bachtiar gave an understanding on science to Indonesian citizens. PMIK then opened an afternoon high school to students who worked in the morning to continue their study.
PMIK services then broadened to establish an academy called Akademi Nasional. Those who did not want to enter Dutch East Indies colonial university, Universiteit van Indonesia, could enlist at Akademi Nasional. The first lectures were held at the first campus on Jalan Diponegoro, Central Jakarta on October 15, 1949, which is taken as the birth of Universitas Nasional.
The naming of academy instead of university was to avoid colonial rules in Jakarta which did not allow the opening of a post-secondary education formed by native Indonesians. Akademi National had supervising five faculties:
Despite being a private university, the Ministry of Education, Teaching and Indonesian Culture in Yogyakarta had been given recognition and equal status to Akademi Nasional through a letter No. 548/S on December 22, 1949. The next development of legalization was through a notary, R. Soewandi, PMIK was changed into YMIK on September 1, 1954 and Akademi National would place its name as Universitas Nasional.
During the university’s second lustrum, October 15, 1959, the first Indonesian president, Soekarno, bestowed the title “the University of Liberation”.
At first, YMIK, for diploma programs, ran a National Foreign Language Academy, National Accounting Academy and National Tourism Academy. Today, Universitas Nasional and its academies have begun to open another 32 programs of study at Diploma, Undergraduate and Graduate levels respectively.

Campuses

Sawo Manila, Bambu Kuning, and R.M. Harsono

Organization

University

Universitas Nasional is governed by a Board of Trustees and the rector. The chairman of the board is Prof. Ibrahim Abdullah. Other trustees include Ramlan Siregar and Asyathry Said Umar.

Rectors

The rector of Universitas Nasional is the university's chief executive officer, appointed by the Board of Trustees. The current rector of Universitas Nasional is El Amry Bermawi Putera.
He was the vice-rector of finance at Nasional University before being chosen by the Board of Trustees in 2009. Putera is the seventh rector of the university.
YearsRector
2009–presentEl Amry Bermawi Putera
1997–2009Prof. Umar Basalim
1993–1997Prof. Achmad Baiquni, Ph.D
1968–1992Prof. Mr. Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana
1965–1968Dr. Muh. Sukmadi
1951–1965Prof. Dr. Soekirno
1949–1951Prof. Soedjadi Setjonegoro

Schools and academies

Universitas Nasional is organized into several schools and academies, each with a dean/director.

Academies