Prof. Yohanes Surya began to train the Indonesian Physics Olympiad Team (TOFI) in 1993 and since then, every year, Indonesia’s team achieves formidable results in both the Asian Physics Olympiad (APhO) and the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO). Throughout his experience in training TOFI, he discovered weaknesses in the teaching of Physics and Math in Indonesia, resulting in a longer training period needed for TOFI. Not only were the students’ science and math competencies lacking in substance but there were many misconceptions. Besides lacking in knowledge, most students also do not have strong analytical nor logical thinking skills. Learning Science and Math in Indonesia is tensed, boring and difficult because it still focuses on rote learning and formulas rather than concept exploration/discovery learning, problem solving and development of thinking skills.

With the teaching and training methods he has developed, Prof. Surya has successfully trained students from small areas in Indonesia and from simple backgrounds to excel and win in prestigious international science competitions.

These experiences have brought him to establish Surya Institute in order to spread the learning spirit and method to students across Indonesia. Our slogan is Fun and Easy Science and Math learning. Besides being fun and easy, we make sure that the learning process is meaningful for students so that what they learn will become life skills and prepare them to excel in the workforce.