A Brief History

Haluoleo University (Unhol) was established in 1964 as a branch private college from Hasanuddin University of Makassar. After seventeen years, Haluoleo University was officially announced as the first state university in Southeast Sulawesi by the Director General of Higher Education; Prof. Dr. Doddy Tisnaamidjaja representing the Minister of Education and Culture which at that time was held by Prof. Dr. Nugroho Notosusanto on August 19, 1981 as the 42nd state university in Indonesia based on Presidential Decree No. 37 of 1981 consisting of:

- Faculty of Teacher Training and Education
- Faculty of Economics
- Faculty of Social Science and Political Science
- Faculty of Agriculture.

When officially announced, Haluoleo University occupies Kemaraya campus whose area is only 7 Ha. This relatively narrow campus condition requires the founders to seek alternative campus as well as expansion of capacity and anticipate the increase of faculty. Along with that public trust even greater towards Haluoleo University, although only supported by 17 permanent lecturers.

After two years of officially announced, the construction of Kampus Hijau Bumi Tridharma Anduonohu occupying 250 Ha area begin, which was located on the outskirts of Kendari City, 14 kilometers from Teluk Kendari seaport. After the expansion of Kendari City, Anduonohu campus is currently in the heart of the city. At the same time, the Haluoleo University Senate approved the Haluoleo University abbreviation to UNHALU.

The construction of this relatively large campus takes about ten years to complete the restoration of college buildings, office buildings and other supporting facilities. On April 4, 1994, the Minister of Education and Culture, Prof. Dr. Ing. Wardiman Djojonegoro, signed the inauguration inscription to commemorate the completion of the Anduonohu campus development.

Upon completion of the construction of Anduonohu Campus, the Minister of Education and Culture closed the operation of the Teacher Education School (SPG) and the School of Sports Teacher (SGO), so that all of the facilities including faculties and staffs were diverted to Haluoleo University. Since then Haluoleo University has two major college campuses, namely; Kemaraya Campus and Anduonohu Campus, plus two support campuses of former SPG lectures with an area of 4 ha and 3 ha of former SGO.

As a leading university in the southeastern island of Sulawesi, Haluoleo University actively contributes ideas for the development of 1528 villages, 67 sub-districts, 4 districts, 2 municipalities and one administrative city in the region, including population growth of Southeast Sulawesi which reached 2.72% per year, above the national average population growth i.e. 1.92%. Currently the population of Southeast Sulawesi amounts to 1.72 million people who mostly live in rural areas.

The word "Haluoleo" is taken from the name of one of the kings of the Konawe Kingdom who lived around the seventeenth century. Haluoleo besides being known as a wise leader, is also believed as a knight who did not know surrender and persistent defend his blood spill. Haluoleo literally means eight days in Tolaki - the language of the natives of the Konawe Empire who inhabited Kendari. According to Prof. Dr. H. Abdurrauf Tarimana that philosophically "halu oleo" contains the understanding of the eight guidance of the wind, and Prof. Usman Rianse said that it is a global vision that became the spirit of UHO, from and to the eight eyes of the wind, all academicians must contribute positively to prosper the earth and mankind.