Sriwijaya University (Indonesian: Universitas Sriwijaya; abbreviated as Unsri) is a research, teaching and learning center which has contributed significantly in the development and advancement of sciences, technologies, arts and cultures.
Being one of the major state universities in Indonesia, Sriwijaya University's initial campus is located in Palembang, the capital of South Sumatera Province, and the second campus is located in Indralaya, Ogan Ilir Regency approximately 32 km away from Palembang.
UNSRI obtained the accreditation "Very Good (A)" awarded by the National Accreditation Board of Higher Education (Badan Akrediasi Nasional Perguruan Tinggi, abbreviated as BAN-PT). According to the 2024 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, UNSRI holds a position of 1501+. Additionally, it secures the 751-800 position in the QS Asian University Rankings. In the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by subject, UNSRI is placed in the 1001+ category for both Engineering & Technology and Physical Sciences.[4][5][6][7]
The idea to establish a college in South Sumatra had been around since the early 1950s and was prompted on Independence Day celebration on August 17, 1952. Initiated by some community leaders, the idea was transformed into an agreement to form a Panitia Fakultet Sumatera Selatan (South Sumatera’s Faculty Committee). At the end of August 1952, the faculty of economics was established under some considerations. Thus, South Sumatera’s Faculty Committee for Economics was set up and then managed by a foundation established on the 1st of April 1953. It was named Yayasan Perguruan Tinggi Syakhyakirti (Syakhyakirti Higher Education Foundation).[8][9]
This Faculty was officially opened on October 31, 1953 in a ceremony attended by Mr. Hadi, Secretary General of the Ministry of Education Teaching and Culture (KDP), Drg. M. Isa (Governor of South Sumatera), Bambang Utoyo (Commander of the Sriwijaya II TT), and Ali Gathmyr (Chairman of the Parliament of South Sumatera).[10][11]
The Foundation of Higher Education Syakhyakirti continued the efforts to establish the university by organizing Panitia Penyelenggaraan Fakultas Hukum (Law Faculty Committee). It was inaugurated as ‘Faculty of Law and Public Knowledge’ on November 1, 1957, coinciding with the celebration of Dies Natalis IV of Economics Faculty.[12][13]
The progress was sustained by the help of Military Authorities Territorial II Sriwijaya that provided financial assistance to construct a permanent building of Syakhyakirti Higher Education Foundation in Bukit Besar (now Bukit Besar’s Campus of Sriwijaya University). The cornerstone laying ceremony took place on October 31, 1957.
The next effort was state validation of the existing college. With the persistent efforts of community leaders of South Sumatera, like Colonel Harun Sohar (A Commander as well as Chairman of Paperda TT II/Sriwijaya) and A. Bastari (Governor), the obstacles of building the university could be overcome. Then, in December 1959, a delegation was sent to Jakarta to meet the Minister of KDP (Mr. Moh. Yamin) where they managed to obtain the Government willingness guarantee for taking over Syakhyakirti college to become a state university. Under the Government Regulation no. 42 of 1960 dated October 29, 1960 (State Archive year 1960 no.135) Sriwijaya University was officially inaugurated on the 3rd of November 1960 and President Sukarno ceremonially signing the charter witnessed by Minister of KDP (Mr. Priyono) and several Ambassadors of the fellow countries. Drg. M Isa was appointed with Presidential Decree No. 696/M of 1960 dated 29 October 1960 as the first President of the University.[14]
To meet the development demands, Sriwijaya University planned to expand the campus area by opening an area of 712 hectares in Indralaya, Ogan Komering Ilir (Now Ogan Ilir- OI), in 1982. The development of this new campus building started in 1983. The development of the campus started in 1989 and ended in 1993.[15]
The South Sumatera’s Governor at that time, Ramli Hasan Basri H, gave his inaugural lecture on Indralaya campus on September 1, 1993. The utilization of the facilities of Sriwijaya University in Indralaya was fully implemented with the issuance of the Decree of the Rector in January 1995 which stipulated that started from February 1, 1995 all activities of administration and most of the academic activities of Sriwijaya University were held on Indralaya campus. The Inauguration of Sriwijaya University’s new campus in Indralaya was officially held on March 6, 1997 by President Suharto.[16]
Bukit Besar Campus: Jl. Srijaya Negara, Bukit Besar, Palembang, South Sumatera, Indonesia 30139
Graduate School Campus: Jl. Padang Selasa No.524, Bukit Besar, Palembang, South Sumatera, Indonesia 30139
Ogan Campus (Faculty of Teacher Training and Education): Jl. Ogan, Bukit Besar, Palembang, South Sumatera, Indonesia 30139
Faculty of Agriculture Palembang Campus: Lorong Hibah I, Bukit Besar, Palembang, South Sumatera, Indonesia 30139
KM 5 Campus (Faculty of Teacher Training and Education): Jl. Srijaya No. 628, Srijaya, Palembang, South Sumatera, Indonesia 30138
Madang Campus (Faculty of Medicine): Jl. Dr. Mohd. Ali, Komplek RSMH Palembang, South Sumatera, Indonesia 30126
The Indralaya Main Campus with an area of 712 hectares is located about 35 kilometers southwest of Palembang. It is the center for bachelor (S1) programs of Unsri. Bukit Besar Campus with an area of 32.5 hectares, used as an educational facility for vocational (D3), master (S2), doctoral (S3), and some of the bachelor programs.
On the Indralaya Campus there are facilities such as Central Library, Institute of Languages, Institute of Research, Institute of Community Services, Computer Center, Student Activity Center, Community Health Center, Health Clinic, and University Fire Station. Unsri also owns a 50 hectares farm for experiments in Gelumbang, Muara Enim Regency (62 kilometers southwest of Palembang).
For inter-campus transportation, Unsri provides self-owned buses between the Bukit Besar Campus and Indralaya Main campus for students and staffs. In addition, Perum DAMRI also provides a direct trajectory between the aforementioned campuses. For internal transportation within the Indralaya Campus, Unsri offers free shuttle buses. PT. KAI also offers trains that runs between Kertapati Station in Palembang and Indralaya Station.
