Soegijapranata Catholic University was founded on August 5, 1982, as the continuation of the Atma Jaya Catholic University Semarang and the Semarang Catholic Institute of Technology.
Soegijapranata Catholic University is an institute of higher education subservient to the name Soegijapranata as the patron of the university. Mgr. Alb. Soegijapranata, SJ, was a priest and the first native archbishop, who is a national figure and hero. Born in Surakarta on November 25, 1896, he entered the Society of Jesus Mariendaal, Grave, the Netherlands, on September 27, 1920. Ordained as a priest on August 15, 1931, he was later appointed as the archbishop of Semarang Archdiocese on September 20, 1940. His concern for education is the legacy of his lecturer, Father Frans Van Lith, SJ. One of his efforts to improve education was to help increase the quality of two oldest Catholic universities, Parahyangan University, Bandung, and Sanata Dharma University, Yogyakarta, so they were of equal status with the state universities.
Mgr. Alb. Soegijapranata was also concerned with the poor. This is evident through his thinking and movements. He encouraged the foundation of socio-economic organizations that dedicated their activities into the empowerment of war victims and poor people.
Today, Soegijapranata Catholic University continues the spirit, the struggles, and the ideals of Mgr. Alb. Soegijapranata’s, SJ, as the protector of the university.
In its early days, Soegijapranata Catholic University was located at 100 Pandanaran St. Semarang and consisted of three faculties: the Faculties of Technology, Law, and Economics. In mid 1990s, the university built a new campus in Bendan Duwur because of the increase of the student body. Since the mid 1990s, educational activities have been entirely centered on this campus. In 1992, the university also built a campus located on Jl. Menteri Supeno Semarang. This downtown campus building is used for the Center for Language Training to provide English language classes to university students and public.
SCU’s library holds extensive collections of books, journals, and digital collections that serve the needs of students, lecturers, and anyone who wishes to conduct research and develop their knowledge, skills, and technology. Currently Soegijapranata Catholic University offers 1 diploma program in Taxation, 18 undergraduate programs, and 9 masters programs. The 18 undergraduate programs include Architecture, Visual Communication Design, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics Mechatronics, Law, Communication, Management, Accountancy, Psychlogy, Food Technology, Culinary Nutrition and Technology, English Language and Literature, Englishpreneurship, Informatics Engineering, Mobile Computing, Information System, and Game Technology.
The masters programs include Master of Science in Management, Master of Management, Master of Science in Environment and Urban Studies, Master of Law with either a concentration in Health, Master of Psychology with a concentration in Psychology of Social Development and Education, Professional Practice in Psychology, Master of Science in Architectural Engineering with concentrations in Architecture and Settlements and Food Technology.
Soegijapranata Catholic University has actively been in cooperation with many universities abroad such as with Trinity Western University in Canada in mentoring graduate students in Professional Practice in Psychology program to become counselors for disaster victims as well as with Radboud University Nijmegen in conducting research related to climate changes, development, and migration. Soegijapranata Catholic University is also in active international collaboration on environmental research, especially on coastal metal pollution and nutrient export with three universities in the Netherlands: Free University, Wageningen University, and Open University.
The cooperation with Providence University, Fu-Jen University and Soochow University in Taiwan includes student exchanges, education staff exchanges, research, and joint publications. Meanwhile, the cooperation with Assumption University in Thailand has enabled Sogijapranata Catholic University’s students to enrich their professional experiences as interns in some companies and carry out research that they can use as their final papers when they return to Indonesia. Soegijapranata Catholic University has also established cooperations through its participation in numerous higher education asscociations in Indonesia and abroad such as
(Asosiasi Perguruan Tinggi Katolik Indonesia or Association of Indonesian Catholic Higher Education), ASEACU (Association of South East Asia Catholic University), ACUCA (Association of Christian Universities and Colleges of Asia), IFCU (International Federation of Catholic Universities), NUNI (Nationwide University Network in Indonesia), I-IEN (Indonesia Integrity Education Network) and UBCHEA (United Board of Christian Higher Education in Asia). These networks provide lecturers and students the opportunities to interact in international communities and develop their worldviews and personalities.
Soegijapranata Catholic University is also in agreement to do credit transfer with Chang Jung Christian University, Providence University and Fu Jen Catholic University in Taiwan.
Many of the students, lecturers, and teaching staff of the university have been successful on regional, national, and international levels. This is due to the excellent academic atmosphere in Soegijapranata Catholic University which encourages them to develop their hard skills and soft skills simultaneously.
Students, lecturers, and the teaching staff of Soegijapranata Catholic University come from various places in Indonesia including Central Java, Yogyakarta Special Region, Jakarta, West Java, Bali, East Nusa Tenggara, Nanggroe Aceh Darusalam, North Sumatra, South Sumatra, Bangka Belitung, West Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, Papua among other places. This indicates that Soegijapranata Catholic University is widely known throughout Indonesia. Having various ethnic and linguistic backgrounds, the entire academic community of the university has ample opportunities in developing the values of unity and tolerance by instilling compassion, justice, and honesty.
The Soegijapranata Catholic University campus is situated in a higher area of Semarang with a cooler climate and a greener area than the lower area creating a comfortable campus for study activities and discussions outside the classroom.
The campus is located to the west of Jatingaleh, at a distance of only ±10 km from the city center which can be reached by various types of public transportation. The facilities available for students in the area surrounding the campus enhance the study environment and support academic activities.