The Christian University of Indonesia

Shortly after the independence of Indonesia on August 17, 1945, national figures who were also Indonesian Christian prominent leaders were touched and felt to established The Church Council of Indonesia (DGI: Dewan Gereja Indonesia). DGI formed a commission to assess the importance of establishing a university, led by Prof. Dr. I.P. Simandjuntak. As the result, DGI issued a resolution of Universiteit Kristen (a Christian-based-faith university) on June 30, 1953. The resolution, which signed by Ds. W.J. Rumambi as the Secretary General of DGI in general session from June 20 to 30 of 1953, asked all churches and Christian people in Indonesia to help the completion of Universiteit Kristen morally or financially. Thus, Indonesian Christian prominent leaders such as Mr. Todung Sutan Gunung Mulia, Mr. Yap Thiam Hien, and Benjamin Thomas Philip Sigar on behalf of the churches incorporated in DGI established a Christian university of Indonesia (Yayasan Universitas Kristen Indonesia ) on July 18, 1953. Its membership was expanded with the presence of Elviannus Katoppo, Ong Jan Hong, Aminudin Pohan, Seri Condar Nainggolan, Benjamin Prawirohadmodjo, Rev. Komarlin Tjakraatmadja, Gerrit Siwabessy, Tan Tek Heng, and J.C.T. Simorangkir. Three months later, on October 15, 1953, Universitas Kristen Indonesia was officially established with the faculties of Language and Philosophy, and Economics. During those days, campus life and administration were held at HSK on Jalan Diponegoro 86 and at three apartments on Jalan Salemba 10. The Faculty of Law was created in 1956, Medicine in 1962, Engineering in 1963, and Social and Political Science in 1994.