UNAS laid its foundation in 1946 by members of the Association for the Advancement of Science and Culture (, PMIK). The founders were R. Teguh Suhardjo Sastrosuwingnyo, Mr.
Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana, Mr. Soedjono Hardjosoediro, Prof. Sarwono Prawirohardjo, Mr. Prajitno Soewondo, Hazil, Kwari Katjabrata, Prof. Dr. R. M.
Djoehana Wiradikarta, R. M. Soebagio, Ny. Noegroho, Drs. Adam Bakhtiar, Dr.
Bahder Djohan, Dr.
J. Leimena, Ir. Abd Karim, Prof. Dr. Soetomo Tjokronegoro, Mr. Ali Budiharjo, Poerwodarminta, Mr. Soetikno, Ir.TH. A. Resink, DR.
Soemitro Djojohadikusumo, Noegroho, Soejatmiko,
H.B. Jassin,
Mochtar Avin,
L. Damais, A.Djoehana, and Nona Roekmini Boediardjo Singgih. Studies were conducted in 1946 by two committees. The first committee, in charge of investigating how to invigorate life sciences in Indonesia, had the following members: • Dr. Leimena • IR. Abd. Karim • Prof. Dr. Soetomo Tjokronegoro • Mr. Ali Budihardjo • Ir. Th. A. Resink • Dr. Soemitro Djojohadikusumo The second committee, in charge of motivating stimulating business activity, consisted of: • Nugroho • Soejatmoko • H.B.Jassin • Muchtar Avin • A. Djoehana • Nona Budihardjo • Nona Rukmini Singgih In late 1946 short courses were established. On around October 1949, in response to demand from 400 high school graduates in Jakarta who did not want to attended
Universiteit Indonesia of the
Dutch colonial government, PMIK announced the opening of a National Academy comprising five faculties: Social Studies, Economics and Politics; Biology, Mathematics and Physics, Letters, and English Literature. The term
academy, rather than
university was chosen to avoid colonial words during the
Indonesian war of independence. Lectures began on October 15, 1949. On December 22, 1949, the
Ministry of Education and Culture, then located in Yogyakarta, provided full recognition for the National Academy. On 1 September 1954 through a deed by Mr. R. Soewandi, the National Academy was renamed the National University. For its support during the war of independence, in 1959, Indonesia's first president,
Sukarno, bestowed the title "University Of Struggle" (
Universitas Perjuangan). ==Campuses==