| Sanata Dharma University | |
| Native Name: | Universitas Sanata Dharma |
| Latin Name: | Universitas Sanata Dharma |
| Motto: | Cerdas dan Humanis |
| Mottoeng: | Excellent and Humanist[1] |
| Type: | Private, Catholic Research Coeducational higher education institution |
| Religious Affiliation: | Roman Catholic (Jesuit) |
| Chairman: | Albertus Budi Susanto, SJ |
| Rector: | Albertus Bagus Laksana, S.J. |
| Head Label: | Vice Rectors |
| Faculty: | 300 |
| Undergrad: | 10,000[2] |
| Country: | Indonesia |
| Campus: | Main campus - in Mrican Campus II - on Affandi St Campus III - in Paingan Campus IV - in Kentungan Campus V - in Kotabaru |
| Free Label: | Alma Mater Song |
| Colors: | Red clay |
Universitas Sanata Dharma (English: Sanata Dharma University) also referred to by its acronym USD or Sadhar is a private, Catholic, research, coeducational higher education institution run by the Indonesian Province of the Society of Jesus in Yogyakarta Indonesia. The two words, "Sanatana Dharma", come from the ancient Sanskrit language. "Sanatana" is a Sanskrit word that denotes that which is Anadi (beginningless), Anantha (endless) and does not cease to be, that which is eternal and everlasting. With its rich connotations, Dharma is not translatable to any other language. Dharma is from dhri, meaning to hold together, to sustain. Its approximate meaning is "Natural Law," or those principles of reality which are inherent in the very nature and design of the universe. Thus the term Sanatana Dharma can be roughly translated to mean "the natural, ancient and eternal way". The dedication is to the greater glory of God and the service is to humanity. Universitas Sanata Dharma has 8 undergraduate schools with 25 departments, along with 7 graduate programs, 1 professional program, and 3 certificate programs.
In 1955 Catholic missionaries of the religious order of the Society of Jesus in Central Java along with lay intellectuals decided to found a teacher training college. With the support of the Congregatio de Propaganda Fide, Father Kester, the superior of the Jesuit missionaries, united the diploma courses in Education under de Britto Foundation in Yogyakarta and in English under the Loyola Foundation in Semarang into a higher learning institution and so was born PTPG Sanata Dharma on October 20, 1955. At that time, Sanata Dharma had four departments: Education, English, History, and Natural Sciences. The superior of the Jesuit mission appointed Father Nicolaus Driyarkara as the dean and Father H. Loeff as the vice dean.
In November 1958 Sanata Dharma was renamed FKIP Sanata Dharma (Faculty of Teacher Training and Education).
In 1965 the Faculty was changed into IKIP Sanata Dharma (Sanata Dharma Institute of Teacher Training and Education). Since 1979 this institute has run both bachelor and diploma programs in mathematics, physics, Indonesian, English, and social science.
To meet the demands, needs and requirements of the community and the progress of science and technology, on April 20, 1993, IKIP Sanata Dharma was developed into Sanata Dharma University.[3]
Currently the university works in collaboration with 158 domestic and 19 foreign institutions,[4] and is listed by QS among top universities.[5] It also participates in the Fulbright visiting scholar program with the USA.[6]