Hasanuddin University is one of the largest autonomous universities in Indonesia. It is located in Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi province. The university was established in 1956, and named after Sultan Hasanuddin, a former King of the Gowa Kingdom.HistoryHasanuddin University started its history as a part of the faculty of economics of University of Indonesia, which during the early years of its establishment had faculties scattered across the archipelago. These faculties later developed into full-fledged universities of their own, such as Bandung Institute of Technology (faculty of engineering), Bogor Agricultural Institute (faculty of agriculture), and Airlangga University (faculty of medicine and dentistry). Hasanuddin University was officially launched by the first vice President of Indonesia, Mohammad Hatta.Over the following sixty years it developed a range of faculties and degree programs. In 2016, it rose in the list of the top 12 universities in Indonesia, to 8th place. The Minister for Research, Technology and Higher Education compiles this list based on teaching, research, facilities, student achievements and accreditation standards. In 2017, Hasanuddin University became one of several Autonomous Universities, freed from the need to seek Ministry approval for basic operations and budgetary matters. It remains as a public university until now.