Catholic Sisters Known for Education Now Lead a University in Indonesia

More than a century after the first ten Sisters of Charity of Saint Charles Borromeo (CB) arrived in Indonesia to serve in healthcare and education, their legacy reached a new milestone this October with the inauguration of Tarakanita University (Utarki), a transformation of the long-established Tarakanita College of Communication and Secretarial Studies (Starki).

The official change in institutional status was approved through a Decree of the Regional Higher Education Service (LLDIKTI) Region III on 6 October 2025, and formally inaugurated at a grand ceremony on October 22, 2025, at the Billy & Moon Campus, Pondok Kelapa, East Jakarta.

A New Era for Tarakanita

With its university status, Utarki will offer four new undergraduate programs: Civil Engineering, Informatics, Information Systems, and Digital Business.

The university will continue its well-regarded programs in Communication Science (S1) and Secretarial Studies (D3), preserving the Tarakanita tradition while expanding to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving world.

“We are grateful to be part of the nation’s intellectual formation,” said Sr. Dr. Yustiana Wiwiek Iswanti, CB, Chairperson of the Tarakanita Education Foundation (YPT) and Provincial Superior of the CB Sisters in Indonesia. “Tarakanita is committed to providing intelligent, integral, and meaningful education at a very affordable cost.”

Education for All

For Sr. Iswanti, the establishment of Utarki is not merely a change in title but a commitment to inclusivity. “We aim to serve students from lower-middle-class communities, those with great potential and determination but limited means. Education at Utarki must be an opportunity for all,” she emphasized.

That inclusive spirit is echoed by Dr. Antonius Singgih Setiawan, the newly appointed Dean of Utarki. “We open access to everyone, not only for women, as in the traditional Tarakanita legacy, but also for men,” he said. “Our first-year target is 1,000 new students, and within five to ten years, we hope to reach tens of thousands.”

Affordable and Accessible

Utarki’s Single Tuition Fee (UKT) model ensures transparency and fairness. “We want to prove that quality education can be accessible to everyone,” Dr. Setiawan added.

In addition to affordable tuition, Utarki students can benefit from a range of scholarship programs, including government-funded grants and support from the Archdiocese of Jakarta’s “Ayo Sekolah Ayo Kuliah” (ASAK) initiative.

National Recognition

The transformation has also drawn praise from education authorities. Dr. Henri Togar Hasiholan Tambunan, Head of LLDIKTI Region III, lauded the move as a sign of institutional maturity and readiness.

“This transformation reflects the courage to move forward and respond to contemporary challenges through innovation,” he remarked. “A university must be a driving force for change and national progress.”

Jakarta Deputy Governor Rano Karno was also present at the ceremony, expressing admiration for the CB Sisters’ enduring contribution to education and social development in Indonesia.

Rooted in a Century of Service

The CB Sisters’ journey in Indonesia began on October 7, 1918, when ten missionary sisters braved a perilous sea voyage from Europe to Batavia (now Jakarta). Their first mission took shape in healthcare with the founding of St. Carolus Hospital, which soon became a cornerstone of Catholic medical service in the country.

From healthcare, the sisters expanded into education, social work, and pastoral service, culminating in the establishment of the Tarakanita Foundation, which today oversees dozens of schools from kindergarten to high school across major Indonesian cities, alongside hospitals and health centers in Jakarta, Serpong, and Yogyakarta.

Their presence continued to grow: six sisters established a community in Bandung, West Java, in 1921, founding the Carolus Borromeus Hospital (RKZ), and by 1929, four more were serving in Bengkulu, South Sumatra, responding to the educational and medical needs of local communities.

Carrying the Legacy Forward

With Tarakanita University, the CB Sisters reaffirm their founding mission, Caritas Christi urget nos (“The love of Christ urges us on”).

A century after their arrival, their work continues to form hearts and minds, empowering new generations to serve with compassion, intelligence, and integrity.

“Utarki stands as a Catholic university that is inclusive, integrity-driven, and preferential toward the underprivileged,” said Sr. Iswanti. “This is our way of making a real contribution to the nation’s future.”