Sanata Dharma University

The Order of Society of Jesus in Central Java decided to find a teacher-training institute. By then, the Order had run a one-year diploma course in education. With the support of the Congregatio de Propaganda Gide, Father Kester, S.J., then Superior of the Jesuit Missionaries, united these courses into a higher learning institution and so was born Sanata Dharma Teacher Training Institute with four departments: Education, English, History, and Exact Sciences. The Superior of the Jesuit Missionaries appointed Father Nicolaus Drijarkara, S.J. as the Dean and Father H. Loeff as his Vice Dean.

Sanata Dharma was renamed Sanata Dharma Faculty of Teacher Training and Education and was a member of the Association of Catholic Universities in Indonesia. This Faculty changed its name and became Sanata Dharma Institute of Teacher Training and Education. This institute has run Bachelor and diploma level programs in Mathematics, Physics, Indonesian, English, and Social Sciences, especially History and Economics. Sanata Dharma Institute of Teacher Training and Education became Sanata Dharma University. Later it runs seven faculties with twenty three undergraduate study programs, three graduate programs, two professional education programs, and numerous language courses.

The meaning of the logo of Sanata Dharma University:

• The frame is a five-angle lotus. Lotus = glory, five angles = Pancasila (the five basic principles of the Republic of Indonesia)
• The torch symbolizes high spirited life
• The opened book symbolizes constantly developing knowledge
• The brown lotus symbolizes mature behavior
• "Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam" means for the greater glory of God

Motto of the university is Excellent & Humanist. Vision of the university is to being an excellent and humanistic truth-seeker for the realization of a more dignified society. Mission of the university are:

• To develop a holistic education system which integrates academic excellence and human values through a personal-care-oriented, dialogical, pluralistic, and transformative approach;
• To create a university academic community which respects academic freedom and scientific autonomy, has the ability to promote interdisciplinary cooperation, prioritizes scientific insight depth rather than breadth in attempt for seeking truth through education, research, and public service activities; and
• To bring about enlightenment which sharpens the society’s mind through publication of the results of education, research, and public service activities, through the promotion of cooperation with various partners who have common vision and concerns , and through the empowerment of graduates in developing concrete commitment in the society.

Sanata Dharma University aims to educate the youths by integrating academic excellence and humanistic values rooted in the universal Christian values and humanity as stated in Pancasila (the ideology of five principles), so that the youth would obtain academic abilities in accordance with their major and high integrity.