Moeslim Taher

When he was in junior high school, from 1950–1952 he taught elementary school in Padang. Subsequently, in 1954–1957 he had become a junior and senior high school teacher in Jakarta. A few years later he became director of a private high school and in 1959 he instead founded Jayabaya University, Jakarta.[4] When first founded the university, he was 24 years old. This initiative seems to be a further development of his devotion to education, with a career that began when he became an elementary school caretaker, junior high school leader, and later high school leader. The experience in devotion in the field of education that later encouraged him to establish Jayabaya University. Other than that, Taher felt responsible for giving answers to the challenges faced by the Indonesian nation in the form of problems of lagging and backwardness in various fields. Understandably, when Jayabaya University was founded, Indonesia was only 13 years old and the number of universities was still few.[9]

At the beginning of its establishment, Jayabaya University began by managing two faculties, namely the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Economics with 11 students.[10] Educational and administrative activities are carried out by borrowing a place at Private Schools at Jalan Salemba Raya 12, Central Jakarta. Classrooms in the morning and afternoon are used by elementary, junior high school, and senior high school students, therefore new lectures take place in the afternoon and evening, from 5 pm to 9 pm.[9] Taher led Jayabaya University as rector in 1961 to replace Prof. Mr. S. A. Hakimm who led from 1959 to 1961, during that period, Taher held the position of vice-rector and secretary.[10] In 1965, he obtained a law degree from the university he led. Three years later, he obtained a bachelor's degree from the Faculty of Social and Political Science, Padjadjaran University. In Unpad he also became an extraordinary lecturer since 1978 and a year later earned a doctorate with cum laude.[4]

As a rector of a private university, in 1980, Taher was appointed become general chairman of the Chancellor's Council of Private Universities and Institutes throughout Indonesia. A few years later he was appointed president of the International Association of Universities for the Southeast Asia region. In addition, in the political realm Taher was appointed by Suharto as the Supreme Advisory Council of the Republic of Indonesia from 1983 to 1988.[4]

Taher has written some books, among others are:

• Sistem Pemerintahan Pancasila (Pancasila Government System), published by Nusa Bangsa in 1978[11]
• Berdialog dengan Situasi untuk Membangun Hari Esok: Kumpulan Pidato Dies Natalis ke XIX s/d XXV Rektor Universitas Jayabaya (1977–1983) (Dialogue with the Situation to Build Tomorrow: A Collection of Speeches from the 19th to 27th Anniversary of the Rector of Jayabaya University (1977–1983)), published by Jayabaya Foundation in 1983[12]
• Civitas Akademica Sumber Konsepsi Dinamika: untuk Melarutkan Nilai-nilai Budaya Kepada Generasi Penerus (Civitas Academica Source Conception of Dynamics: to Dissolve Cultural Values to the Next Generation), published by Jayabaya Foundation in 1983[13]
• Iman, Ilmu & Amal Berlandaskan Kematangan Mental Spiritual: Kumpulan Karya Tulis, Ceramah, dan Khotbah Terpilih (Faith, Science & Charity Based on Spiritual Mental Maturity: A Collection of Written Work, Lectures, and Selected Sermons), published by Jayabaya Foundation in 1984[14]
• Menemukan Suatu Sistem dengan Proses Perubahan Terpola (Finding a System with a Patterned Change Process), published by Jayabaya Foundation in 1984[15]
• Menuju Perilaku Berlandaskan Nilai-nilai dan Moral Pancasila (Towards Behavior Based on Values and Morals of Pancasila), published by Jayabaya Foundation in 1984[16]

In June 2013, a book about the struggle of Moeslim Taher and his wife Yuyun Moeslim Taher (Yuyun Hindun) in developing the world of education by establishing Jayabaya University amid various limitations was launched.[17] The book, entitled Hidup Berakal, Mati Beriman: Perjuangan Pengantin Pendidikan Prof. Dr. H.M. Moeslim Taher, S.H., Prof. Dr. Hj. Yuyun Moeslim Taher, S.H., Membesarkan Universitas Jayabaya (Life Have Sense, Die Have Faith: the Struggle of the Education Bride Prof. Dr. H.M. Moeslim Taher, S.H., Prof. Dr. Hj. Yuyun Moeslim Taher, S.H., Raising Jayabaya University) was written by their own son, namely Kurnia P. Moeslim Taher.[1]

• Moeslim Taher on Apa dan Siapa Tempo