JAKARTA — The Hindu College (STAH) Dharma Nusantara Jakarta officially launched its Master’s (S2) Study Program in Hindu Religious Education on Friday, July 24, 2026, held at Graha Sabha Aditya Jaya, Rawamangun, East Jakarta. The arrival of this postgraduate program marks a strategic step in strengthening the development of Hindu higher religious education, while also broadening public access to quality master’s-level education.
The inauguration was attended by the Director General of Hindu Community Guidance at the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Prof. Dr. I Nengah Duija, M.Si.; the Special Staff to the Minister of Religious Affairs, Gugun Gumilar, M.A., Ph.D.; the leadership of STAH Dharma Nusantara Jakarta; along with religious figures, academics, lecturers, education staff, and students.
The opening of the Master’s Program in Hindu Religious Education reflects STAH Dharma Nusantara Jakarta’s commitment to improving the quality of Hindu higher education—one capable of adapting to the times without setting aside the values of dharma. The program is expected to become a center for the development of education, research, and community service, producing Hindu human resources who are excellent, professional, and able to compete at the global level.
The launch series also featured a talkshow titled “Cultural and Technological Acculturation in Hindu Education to Shape a Globally Competitive Generation.” This academic forum highlighted the importance of synergy between cultural preservation, technological utilization, and the strengthening of Hindu values in addressing educational challenges in the global era. The forum presented two speakers: Prof. Dr. I Ketut Sudarsana, S.Ag., M.Pd.H., and I Ketut Budiasa, S.T., M.M.
In their presentations, both speakers emphasized that technological progress must be harnessed as an instrument to enhance the quality of learning without erasing cultural identity or the noble values of Hinduism. Hindu education, they argued, must be able to produce a generation that excels academically while also possessing character, integrity, creativity, and readiness to face global dynamics.
The Chairman of STAH Dharma Nusantara Jakarta stated that the opening of the Master’s Program in Hindu Religious Education is a strategic step to strengthen the role of Hindu religious higher education institutions.
“The launch of the Master’s (S2) Program at STAH Dharma Nusantara Jakarta is a very proud first step and, at the same time, a great mandate. This shows that STAH Dharma Nusantara Jakarta continues to grow and remains committed to providing higher-quality and more accessible Hindu education,” he explained.
He added that, as the only Hindu higher education institution in Jakarta, STAH Dharma Nusantara Jakarta aspires to become the birthplace of a Hindu generation that possesses not only academic ability, but also strong character, upholds the values of dharma, and is able to adapt to the changing times.
The Director General of Hindu Community Guidance at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Prof. Dr. I Nengah Duija, expressed his appreciation for the opening of the Master’s Program in Hindu Religious Education as a form of commitment to improving the quality of Hindu higher religious education in Indonesia.
“This is an extraordinary achievement for STAH Dharma Nusantara Jakarta. I hope this program continues to grow into a center for the development of Hindu knowledge that is excellent, innovative, and inclusive, and that it is able to deliver real benefits for the Hindu community, the nation, and the state,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Special Staff to the Minister of Religious Affairs, Gugun Gumilar, viewed the presence of the Master’s Program in Hindu Religious Education as playing an important role in preparing human resources capable of competing globally without abandoning their cultural roots, spirituality, and sense of nationhood.
“Amid an uncertain global situation, the Hindu College is preparing the nation’s future struggle toward the Golden Generation of 2045—100 years of Indonesia—by establishing a Master’s Program in Education at a Hindu religious college. This is important, ladies and gentlemen,” he said.
He also affirmed that education is a long-term investment for building an advanced civilization while strengthening the nation’s character in facing the various challenges of a changing era.
Through the launch of the Master’s Program in Hindu Religious Education, the strengthening of synergy between cultural values, technological innovation, and academic quality is expected to produce graduates who are professional, principled, and ready to contribute to the advancement of the community, the nation, and the state, at both the national and international levels.
The launch of the Master’s Program in Hindu Religious Education at STAH Dharma Nusantara Jakarta also received support from I Gede Suhendra, M.M., Head of Corporate Communication of Indonesia Financial Group (IFG), as the event sponsor.
