The need to establish a higher-education institute that develops the talents of students from South Sumatra and the surrounding provinces was realised in 1952. By 1953, the Syakhyakirti Higher Education Foundation was formed consisting of a Faculty of Economics. The institute’s efforts in providing quality education continued to move forward, and in 1960, the institute was officially inaugurated by the Indonesian government and became a state-owned higher education institute. Indonesia’s President Sukarno officially launched the university on 29th October, accompanied by the Minister of Education Mr Mohammad Yamin.
In keeping with Indonesia’s rapid development as well as the rising demands for higher education in Indonesia, UNSRI developed a second campus in Indralaya, 32km away from Palembang. The campus was inaugurated by President Suharto in 1997 and spans 712 hectares. This enabled UNSRI to cater to the increase in students from across the archipelago as well as from abroad. New faculties and study programmes were established as part of the university’s efforts to serve an increasingly complex scientific landscape, resulting in UNSRI increasing its role in local and regional research projects as it looked to develop itself as a leading research university in Indonesia.
With its reputation for research and innovation, UNSRI continues to improve upon its education standards so as to produce adept graduates that can contribute to the development of Palembang and the surrounding regions. Furthermore, with the province’s strategic geographic location and abundance of natural resources, UNSRI’s in-depth local knowledge will prove invaluable to international partners looking for an educational platform for which to do business and education.
As a university renowned for its research-intensive initiatives, Sriwijaya University's well-established Research Centres and Development Institutes act as a platform to bring together talented researchers across diverse disciplines. The centres encourages teaching and research objectives set in a collaborative and multidisciplinary environment, offering education opportunities in several areas of expertise, strengthening the quality of all the faculties at UNSRI. Furthermore, this has enabled UNSRI to effectively engage in collaboration with international partners such as UNESCO on a broad range of topics from biodiversity to renewable energy and tropical diseases. Through the combination of modern infrastructure and a culture for research excellence, the Research Institutes have attracted a multitude of scientists and academics from across the archipelago and the region and have increased the university’s research capabilities.
UNSRI’s Research Institutes are involved in diverse research projects. The university has 11 Research Institutes consisting of centres focusing on Environmental Studies, Wildlife Study, Disaster Management as well as Land and Water Management among others. As such, the research focus at UNSRI has resulted in the issuance of 41 patents for various products developed by the university’s research teams. The patents obtained by UNSRI provides a valuable and comprehensive source of technical, legal and commercial information which can be utilised for future experimental purposes as well as the basis for adaptation and improvement of the technology described in the patent. This showcases UNSRI’s forward-thinking approach to research that aims to benefit the local community as well as the university’s strategic role in helping to develop the local economy and wider society.
As evident of the collaborative nature of its research portfolio, the Research Centres often collaborate with the university’s Development Institutes to serve the various needs of the local community. These include centres such as the Entrepreneurship and Business Incubator which assists students as well as MSME’s in improving their business strategies and seeking opportunities through the use of information technology, in addition to the Disaster Mitigation and Rehabilitation Centre as well as student Community Service initiatives. Through its interdisciplinary approach, UNSRI has strengthened the application of research while also encouraging the development of innovative strategies to contribute to improved societal welfare.
Located in the historical city of Palembang, South Sumatra, UNSRI aims to showcase the cultural and economic importance of one of the oldest cities in Indonesia through the high-quality education standards that it provides. The university’s strategic location therefore boasts a unique characteristic in which it is also able to offer a cultural experience to its local and international students. UNSRI’s dedication to developing science as a service for the community highlights Palembang’s heritage as an education and cultural hub for local as well as those from abroad.
Palembang today still commands great national and regional attention. In 2011 it successfully hosted the Southeast Asian Games which consists of 22 venues to accommodate 4,000 athletes. This demonstrates the city’s potential as a growth centre for future economic development with UNSRI well-positioned to participate in the city’s ongoing progress. UNSRI’s highly-regarded reputation in the fields of medicine and civil engineering stands to cater to the rising demands for skilled labour across these industries as the province continues to incur growth.
Moreover, the resource-rich province of South Sumatra has immense potential for new areas of exploration and development in mining and agriculture. This rising investment destination received the status as one of Indonesia’s Regional Champions — provinces that are promoted by the Indonesian Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM). Furthermore, as the provincial capital, Palembang’s seaports are set to become key centres for exports, with the city being prepared as one of 11 economic corridors in the government’s MP3EI Master Plan. UNSRI’s graduates have the necessary theoretical knowledge as well as technical skills needed to contribute to the provinces’ and the city’s goals to become a hub for intra-Indonesia trade as well as international trade.
UNSRI’s Palembang heritage has been one of the focal points in its attractiveness to international students and partners. Its standing as a national university providing high-quality education serves as an academic platform for government designated opportunities in its strive to attain regional development.
Sriwijaya University receives an ‘A’ Accreditation from the National Accreditation Agency for Higher Education
Establishment of Sriwijaya University on 29th October 2016