Awareness of having advanced education to improve the quality of human resources is increasing in Indonesia. As proof, there are many new established universities stretching from Sabang to Merauke. Today, the people who live in Tangerang, especially Buddhists, are happy for the official opening of the Buddhi Dharma University (BDU).

In the first month of 2015, Arief R. Wismansyah, as Mayor of Tangerang, inaugurated the establishment of Buddhi Dharma University. BDU is the first Buddhist university in Indonesia. BDU is located at 41 Imam Bonjol Street, Tangerang, Banten Province. On the same occasion, Prof. Dr. Harimurti Kridalaksana was also invested as the first Rector of BDU. The professor was born in Unggaran, Central Java province, on December 23, 1939. He is known as an expert on Indonesian literature. He also served as chair of the Department of Indonesian Literature at UI (University of Indonesia) and as coordinator of the graduate program.

BDU has three faculties with fifteen departments. The Faculty of Science and Technology is made up of the Department of Physics, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Computer Engineering, Information Engineering, Software Engineering, Multimedia and Network Engineering, and Computer Management. The Faculty of Business consists of the Department of Management, Accounting, Business Administration and Accounting in the D3 program (diploma three). For its part, the Faculty of Humanities and Literature consists of English Literature, Communications and English Studies in the D3 program.

BDU is the third university in Tangerang after UNIS and Muhammadiyah University. Currently, Buddhi Dharma University has approximately three thousand students, with a growing number of students each year. Therefore, it is not surprising that the existing four-story building can no longer house the students. Buddhi Dharma University has a plan to build a building at the rear of the existing building.

“Buddhi Dharma University was not achieved easily, but it was achieved with a tedious struggle,” said Udayasakhya Halim, chairman of the board of the Boen Tek Bio Association. With the status of a Buddhist university, Buddhi Dharma University offers more value in education based on Buddhist values. “Buddhi Dharma University will place more emphasis on the practical application of universal Buddhism. Teachers and students are from different faiths, but we have all agreed to apply it in real life,” said Udayasakhya Halim.

Unfortunately, the number of Buddhist conferences is very limited. Therefore, BDU offers a Graduate Scholarship Agreement for Buddhists of various careers. Buddhists are intended to be lecturers at BDU. So far, BDU has awarded scholarships to ten scholars studying at various universities. In addition, BDU also offers a special twenty percent discount for the children of experts who wish to study at BDU.