The Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of St. Charles Borromeo (CB) has inaugurated Tarakanita University (Utarki), marking a new chapter in Catholic higher education in Indonesia and expanding access to affordable and inclusive learning.
The institution, formerly known as the Tarakanita College of Communication and Secretarial Studies (Starki), officially gained university status through a decree from the Regional Higher Education Service (LLDIKTI) Region III on October 6, 2025.
The transition was celebrated in a ceremony at the Billy & Moon Campus in Pondok Kelapa, East Jakarta, on October 22.
Catholic university rooted in service and inclusion
Under its new status, Utarki will house two faculties — the Faculty of Exact Sciences and the Faculty of Non-Exact Sciences — and offer four new bachelor’s programs in Civil Engineering, Informatics, Information Systems, and Digital Business, alongside existing courses in Secretarial Studies and Communication Science.
Sr. Dr. Yustiana Wiwiek Iswanti CB, chairperson of the Tarakanita Education Foundation (YPT) Board of Trustees, said the new university continues the congregation’s mission of forming minds and hearts grounded in faith, service, and compassion.
“We are grateful to be part of the nation’s intellectual formation. Tarakanita is committed to providing intelligent, integral, and meaningful education at a very affordable cost,” said Sr. Yustiana, who also leads the CB Sisters’ Indonesian province.
She said the university seeks to make higher education accessible to students who might otherwise be left behind.
“We target lower-middle-class communities who have potential and strong determination but face financial limitations. Education at Utarki must be an opportunity for all,” she added.
The Tarakanita Foundation operates dozens of Catholic schools across Indonesia — from kindergarten to high school — and manages several hospitals and health centers in Jakarta, Serpong, and Yogyakarta.
‘Education must be for everyone’
Dr. Antonius Singgih Setiawan, Utarki’s first dean, said the transformation embodies the congregation’s long-standing advocacy for equal access to quality education.
“We are opening educational access to everyone — not only for women, as in the previous Tarakanita tradition, but also for men. Our first-year target is 1,000 new students, and within five to ten years, we aim to reach tens of thousands,” he said.
Dr. Setiawan added that Utarki will follow a Single Tuition Fee (UKT) system to keep education affordable.
“Tuition at Utarki is very affordable — between IDR 3 million and IDR 3.5 million per semester. Students may also pay in monthly instalments. We want to prove that quality education can be accessible to everyone,” he said.
The university also offers a range of scholarships from the Tarakanita Foundation, the government, and diocesan partners — including the KIP Kuliah program and the “Ayo Sekolah Ayo Kuliah” (ASAK) initiative of the Archdiocese of Jakarta.
‘A university must drive progress’
Government officials praised the transformation as a significant step in the growth of Indonesia’s education sector.
Dr. Henri Togar Hasiholan Tambunan, head of LLDIKTI Region III, said the move reflected institutional courage and readiness.
“This transformation reflects the courage to move forward and respond to contemporary challenges through innovation. A university must be a driving force for change and national progress,” he said.
Jakarta Deputy Governor Rano Karno, who attended the inauguration, also commended the CB Sisters’ enduring role in advancing education in the country.
A century-long legacy of faith and education
The CB Sisters first arrived in Indonesia on October 7, 1918, after a perilous sea voyage marked by storms and the threat of naval mines. Their first mission began in healthcare with the founding of St. Carolus Hospital in Batavia (now Jakarta), before expanding into education, social work, and pastoral ministry.
In 1921, the Sisters helped establish Carolus Borromeus Hospital in Bandung, and eight years later, sent missionaries to Bengkulu, Sumatra, to serve in schools and hospitals.
More than a century later, that same spirit of service continues through Tarakanita University (Utarki) — envisioned as a Catholic institution that is “integrity-driven, inclusive, and preferential toward the underprivileged,” dedicated to nurturing faith, intellect, and social responsibility.
Photo credit: Indonesian CB’s Tarakanita University (Utarki) via Sr. Ariati CB
— LiCAS.news
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