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Prasetiya Mulya University appoints former senior diplomat Hassan Wirajuda as new rector
Hassan Wirajuda, who served as foreign minister under the country's fifth and sixth presidents, was inaugurated on Wednesday as rector of Prasetiya Mulya University, vowing to develop an East Asian studies program to reflect the region's growing impact on the global order.
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Newly installed Prasetiya Mulya University administrators (from left) provosts Stevanus Wisnu Wijaya and Christiana Yosevina, deputy rector Fathony Rahman and rector Hassan Wirajuda pose with Prasetiya Mulya Foundation board of trustees deputy chair Jusuf Wanandi and board of executives chair Djisman Simandjuntak on Jan. 8, 2025, after their inauguration ceremony at the university’s BSD campus in Tangerang, Banten. (Prasetiya Mulya University/Prasetiya Mulya University)
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rasetiya Mulya University inaugurated former foreign minister Hassan Wirajuda as its new rector on Wednesday, as the university looks to develop a comprehensive East Asian studies program in light of the region’s rising global influence.
The inauguration ceremony was led by Prasetiya Mulya Foundation board of trustees deputy chair Jusuf Wanandi at the university’s BSD campus in Tangerang regency, Banten.
Jusuf is also deputy chair of the board of trustees at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Foundation of Jakarta-based think tank CSIS.
The same event also installed Fathony Rahman as Prasetiya Mulya University deputy rector and Christiana Yosevina and Stevanus Wisnu Wijaya as provosts for the 2025-2028 period.
In his inauguration speech, Hassan noted the growth of East Asian countries, particularly China, and how rapid development in the region had shifted the global power balance away from the West.
“The combination of relatively stable politics, security, a dynamic economy and the rise of China has made East Asia the new center of the world. We can no longer be considered living on the outskirts, but I’m not sure if we know our neighbors in East Asia that well,” he said.
Hassan also said Indonesia’s higher education had been oriented toward the United States and Europe for far too long, leaving a shortage of East Asian experts in the country. This skewed focus had also led to a divide between academia and industries, the latter of which had seen their ties with East Asia businesses flourish over the years.
