Universitas Andalas (UNAND) is the oldest university outside of Java Island, and the fourth oldest university in Indonesia. This university was established in 1956 following the Decree of Minister of Education and Culture No. 80016/Kab, 23 December 1955. UNAND was officially launched at 13 September 1956 by Vice President Republic of Indonesia,Drs. Mohammad Hatta. In its early years, UNAND had five faculties that were spread at different municipalities. Faculty of Agriculture in Payakumbuh, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Natural Science in Bukittinggi, Faculty of Law in Padang, and Faculty of Teaching and Education in Batusangkar. Other faculties i.e. Humanities, Engineering, Social and Politics, Pharmacy, Agricultural Technology, Information Technology, Dentistry, Nursing, Public Health, and Postgraduate Programs have been afterwards. UNAND is now having 15 faculties and Postgraduate Program and is home for almost 28000 students.
UNAND has several campuses scattered all over West Sumatra province to provide equal and contextual education for the right knowledge and practices. The main campus is located on the top of Limau Manis hill on which you can watch over Padang City and enjoy the sun set at the horizon of Padang beach in a nice afternoon. Complementary to the view, the campus is surrounded by a mindfully green and clean environment. UNAND has three campuses, i.e Campus I in Padang covers the area of 500 ha (main campus); campus II in Payakumbuh for Animal Science and Economics; and campus III in Dharmasraya for Agroecotechnology. Total land area of UNAND is estimated 6,421,669 m2, allocated for educational and practical purposes. The area spreads in some locations, namely in the main campus (4,795,685 m2), Lima Puluh Kota district (1,339,200 m2), Campus Jati (14,186 m2), Payakumbuh City (100,545 m2) and in some other areas in Padang. The area has become one of assets to be developed in the future. In order to support learning process in class and laboratories, UNAND has several buildings with total area for about 27,877 m2 and laboratories area 67,179.67 m2. There are 23 laboratories located in almost all faculties.