Parahyangan Catholic University

Universitas Katolik Parahyangan (UNPAR) or Parahyangan Catholic University is a private university in Bandung, Indonesia. It is one of the oldest private universities in Indonesia, supported by Ordo Sanctae Crucis (OSC)^[1] as reflected by red and white cross in the middle of the logo. Currently Mgr. Dr. Antonius Subianto Bunyamin, OSC as bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Bandung is the chairman head of Foundation.

History

The history of Parahyangan Catholic University goes back to January 17, 1955, when the late Bishop of Bandung, Mgr. P.M. Arntz, in cooperation with Bishop of Bogor, Mgr. Prof. Dr. N.J.C. Geise, established a trade academy named Akademi Perniagaan. In August 1955, the academy became Parahyangan Socio-Economic Institution of Higher Learning (now the Faculty of Economy).

In September 15, 1955, the Faculty of Law was established; this changed the name “Parahyangan Socio-Economic Institution of Higher Learning” in to “Parahyangan Catholic Institution of Higher Learning”. In October 31, 1955, a foundation based on legal institution was established as an education organization body of Parahyangan Catholic Institution of Higher Learning.

In 1960, the Faculty of Engineering was established with two departments, Architecture and Civil Engineering, followed by the Faculty of Social and Political Science in 1961. In the same year, the Indonesian government established a law regarding institutions of higher learning, thus the name “Parahyangan Catholic Institution of Higher Learning” changed into “Parahyangan Catholic University” and gain government’s accreditation on September 19, 1962 and in 1981.

Today the university has seven faculties with more than 16 departments, all with government accreditation.With more than 10,000 students, each year UNPAR graduates more than 2,000 professionals.

Faculties

There are seven faculties in the university:

• Faculty of Economic with four majors: Management, Accounting, Economic Development, and D3 Company Management
• Faculty of Engineering with two majors: Civil Engineering and Architecture Engineering
• Faculty of Social and Political Science with three majors: Public Administration, Business Administration, and International Relations
• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Philosophy
• Faculty of Industry and Technology with three majors: Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Mechatronics Engineering
• Faculty of Information Technology and Science with three majors: Information Technology, Mathematics and Physics

Achievements

In February 2009, a team consisting of 15 students from Parahyangan Catholic University won the "Outstanding Delegation Award" in the Harvard National Model United Nations 2009. This was considered a significant achievement because Parahyangan Catholic University is one of the only three universities in the Asian continent to win an award in HNMUN 2009, which had over 3,000 participants from 35 countries.

A world ranking, human competitiveness index and analysis by the Human Resources & Labor Review, published in Chasecareer Network Indonesia, ranked the university eighth in Indonesia in 2010^[3] and 350th-400th in the world.^[4]

In December 2011, a team consisting of two law students from Parahyangan International Law Society (PILS) represented the Asia region to compete win the Third World Human Rights Moot Court Competition in University of Pretoria, South Africa. The team defeated all of its Asian rivals Ateneo de Manila University (Philippines) and National Law Institute, University of Bhopal (India) and went as far the semi-finals Third World Human Rights Moot Court Competition in South Africa.

In August 2015, the team from PILS was chosen to represent Indonesia in the 2015 Asia Cup International Law Moot Court Competition in Tokyo, Japan. The team defeated opponents from across Asia, including Japan, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and emerged as the 3rd winner in the competition. The team also won the Best Memorial Award, becoming the first team from Indonesia to achieve such feat. Both oralists of the team were also ranked within the top 10 oralists.

In almost every year, the representative of International Relations Department students for PNMHII (Pertemuan Nasional Mahasiswa Hubungan Internasional se-Indonesia) achieved the award of Best Delegation for their performance in the Short Diplomatic Course. In the same event, the students also obtained various awards in each year for their presentation in the 'diskusi ilmiah'. PNMHII is an annual meeting and conference of International Relations students all over Indonesia.

Choir

Parahyangan Catholic University Choir has consistently brought awards and recognitions from international competitions:^[5][6]

• 1st Prize (Mixed Choir) at Nederlands International Koor Festival in 1995, Arnhem
• 1st Prize (Folklore), 3rd Prize (Mixed Choir), 3rd Prize (Female Choir) at XLV Concorso Polifonico Internazionale "Guido d'Arezzo" in 1997, Arezzo
• 2nd Prize (Mixed Choir), 2nd Prize (Musica Sacra), 3rd Prize (Folklore A Capella) at 1st Choir Olympics in 2000, Linz
• 1st Prize (Mixed Choir), 1st Level Achievement at 8th International Chamber Choir Competition Marktoberdorf in 2003
• 2nd Prize (Volksliedbewerb), 3rd Prize (Kuntsliedbewerb) at 45th International Competition of Choral Singing in 2008, Spittal an der Drau^[7]
• 1st Prize (Folksong Choirs), 2nd Prize (Mixed Choir) at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in 2010, Eisteddfod, Llangollen^[8]
• 3rd Prize (Free Expression) at 40th Florilege Vocal de Tours in 2011, Tours
• 2nd Prize (Historical Period) at LXI Concorso Polifonico Internazionale "Guido d'Arezzo" in 2013, Arezzo
• 1st Prize (Kuntsliedbewerb) at 51th International Competition of Choral Singing in 2014, Spittal an der Drau

Student affairs

Student affairs are supervised by the vice-rector for Student Affairs, and the university student president.

Student activities include:

• Sports: basketball, soccer, chess, tennis, table tennis, softball, badminton, volleyball, hockey, bridge, aerobics, swimming, diving, etc.
• Self-defense arts: such as Tae Kwon Do, Kempo, Kateda, Silat Pajajaran (traditional self-defense), Perisai Diri, Judo, Karate, Wushu, Nampon, Sinar Teratai, Aikido, Ju Jit Su, Boxer, and Kendo.
• Arts: local traditional arts, includes Indonesian traditional dances, traditional music (Karawitan) and other Indonesian traditional arts.
• Choir: It was established 50 years ago (1962) and has been very successful over the years even in international competition; it has won contests in Europe several times.
• To bring awareness to the environment and surroundings and develop the community, UNPAR facilitates environmental and community-based activities: nature lovers, blood fonors, voluntary corps, community science study group, Parahyangan photography unit.
• Academic-based activities: Parahyangan English Club, Parahyangan Programmer’s Club, Parahyangan English Debating Society.

See also

• Education in Indonesia

References