Universitas Teuku Umar

Originally an agricultural academy, the institution that became Universitas Teuku Umar was set up by clerics and community leaders in 1983. In 2006, it was renamed and reopened as a private university; eight years later, it became a state university.   

Throughout, the university campus remained in Aceh province, on the west coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. However, the university has broadened out from its original agricultural remit, and now offers degree courses across six faculties: economics and business; social and political sciences; health sciences; fisheries and marine sciences; agriculture; and engineering. 

However, there is still a campus farm, which integrates agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries. This provides students with opportunities for practice, research and community service. It has, however, been supplemented by computer, health and technology labs, as well as a communications and podcast studio.

The student dormitory – notable for its lime-green balconies – runs a character-development programme for its residents. The aim is for students to develop integrity, social awareness and ethical values during their time at the university. 

Extracurricular activities are organised through student activity units. For example, the sports activity unit oversees 17 sports clubs, including basketball, volleyball, chess, petanque, archery and rock climbing, as well as the South-East Asian sport of sepak takraw and the Indonesian martial art tarung derajat. The arts activity unit runs choir, theatre, music, photography and poetry societies, as well as organising participation in arts-related festivals and competitions.