Our History
Founded in 1994 in Tangerang, Indonesia, Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH) is a private Christian university established by the Pelita Harapan Education Foundation. Envisioned by its founders, led by Dr. James T. Riady, UPH was created to provide high-quality education grounded in Christian values, with a strong emphasis on character formation, academic excellence, and global competence. Over the years, UPH has grown into one of Indonesia’s leading universities, offering diverse academic programs supported by modern facilities, international partnerships, and a strong commitment to holistic education and societal impact.
Within this broader institutional journey, the Department of Mathematics UPH was established in 2005 with a mission to contribute to nation-building through excellence in applied mathematics education, research, and community service. From the very beginning, the department demonstrated a long-term and future-oriented vision by offering Actuarial Mathematics and Computational Mathematics concentrations. These early academic directions reflected a strong awareness of the growing importance of technology, quantitative modeling, and financial risk management in a data-driven and increasingly complex global economy.
In 2009, the department expanded its academic scope by introducing the Business Mathematics concentration. This development was motivated by the rising demand for applied mathematicians in the financial and business sectors—professionals who are not only mathematically rigorous but also capable of translating quantitative insights into practical decision-making within industry contexts. As financial markets evolved and big data became central to economic activity, the department continuously adapted its curriculum and structure. This led to the consolidation of its expertise into two main academic streams: the Actuarial and Business Mathematics Program and the Financial Engineering and Computational Risk Management Program, ensuring sustained relevance to both academic advancements and industry needs.
Since 2018, the Department of Mathematics UPH has further strengthened its commitment to experiential learning by offering a Co-operative Education (Co-op) Program, modeled after established co-op systems at leading Canadian universities. Through this program, students integrate academic study with structured, supervised professional work experience. The co-op program plays a critical role in students’ development by allowing them to apply mathematical theory in real-world settings, develop professional skills, cultivate work ethics, and gain early exposure to industry practices. As a result, graduates are better prepared, more adaptable, and more confident as they transition into professional careers or advanced studies.
Beyond academics, the Department of Mathematics UPH has grown into a safe and nurturing environment where students are encouraged to mature intellectually, professionally, and personally. Through a balanced integration of academic rigor, co-curricular engagement, mentorship, and extracurricular activities, the department supports students in developing integrity, resilience, and self-confidence. Upon graduation, our students are not only technically competent mathematicians, but also individuals who are ready to face the world with clarity of purpose, integrity, and confidence—embodying the values upheld by UPH.
Our Goals
To become a leading undergraduate applied mathematics program at the national level with strong international competitiveness in Actuarial Mathematics, Computational Mathematics, and Business Mathematics, supported by rigorous academic standards and applied, industry-relevant learning.
To develop professionally prepared graduates who possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills, are adaptive to technological and scientific advancements, and are ready to contribute effectively in professional environments with confidence and competence.
To cultivate a strong academic and scientific community that balances intellectual excellence with character formation and faith, fostering integrity, responsibility, and a clear sense of purpose in all academic and extracurricular activities.
To integrate real-world experience into the curriculum through applied projects, experiential learning, and structured professional exposure, enabling students to connect theory with practice and to graduate with practical insight and workplace readiness.
To build meaningful and sustainable partnerships with government institutions, universities, and industry—both in Indonesia and internationally—to strengthen education, research, and graduate employability while ensuring ongoing relevance to societal and industry needs.
Our Mission
Liberal Arts as Our Foundation
Our vision is to deliver Christ-centered education that transforms lives. Through courses in Theology, Philosophy, Language, and Life Skills, students become mature, articulate, and reflective individuals. Here, they gain theological insight, critical thinking skills, linguistic competence, and civic awareness.
