The Universitas Riau Kepulauan (UNRIKA) is a development of the Batam College of Economics (STIE) and the Batam College of Engineering (STT), which was founded in 1994 by the Batam Higher Education Foundation (YPTB). This foundation was founded in Batam on December 12 1992, which is engaged in establishing, developing and managing universities on Batam Island.
With assistance from Prof. BJ Habibie (Chair of the Batam Authority) Batam Higher Education Foundation received 3 Ha of campus land in the Batuaji area.
When it was founded, the first high schools opened were the High School of Economics (STIE) and the High School of Engineering (STT) and were the first high schools in Batam City, Riau Islands Province.
Listed figures who have been approved as Chair and Assistant Chair of STIE and STT Batam:
Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Ekonomi (STIE)
| Posititon | Name | Year |
| Ketua | : Dra. Subiyanti Wirianata | (1994-1999) |
| Puket I | : Ade P Nasution, SE, M.Si. | (1994-1999) |
| Ketua | : Ade P Nasution, SE, M.Si. | (1999-2004) |
| Puket I | : Anton Prabowo, SE, MM | (1999-2001) |
| Puket I | : Tibrani, SE, M.Si. | (2002-2005) |
Sekolah Tinggi Teknik (STT)
| Position | Name | Year |
| Ketua | : Ir. Nurjannah | (1993-1998) |
| Puket I | : Ir. Iman Lukita | (1993-1998) |
| Ketua | : Abdullah Merjani, S.T., M.T. | (1999-2004) |
| Puket I | : Arif Rahman Hakim, S.T., M.T. | (1999-2004) |
Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan (STKIP) Batam
Posistion | Name | Year |
| Ketua | : Drs. Ibnu Maja | ((2004-2005) |
| Ketua | : Drs. Ole Bili | (2005-2007) |
In subsequent developments in 2006 in accordance with changing times and new paradigms regarding higher education, STIE Batam, STT Batam, STKIP Batam were merged into the Universitas Riau Kepulauan through Dikti Decree No.68 / D / 0/2006 and 68 / D / T / 2006 Which currently houses 5 (Five) Faculties, namely the Faculty of Economics, the Faculty of Engineering, the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences.
Universitas Riau Kepulauan is a private university in the Riau Islands Province and is under the auspices of Kopertis Region X (Padang, Jambi, Riau and Riau Islands).
Rector of the Universitas Riau Kepulauan:
| Name | Length of service |
Dr. H. Amarullah Nasution, S.E, M.B.A. | 2006 – 2011 |
Prof. Dr, H. Zainuddin, M.Pd. | 2011 – 2016 |
Prof. Dr. H. Nasruddin Harahap, S.U. | 2016 – 2018 |
Edwin Agung Wibowo, S.E, M.Comm. Prof. Hj. Dr. Sri Langgeng Ratnasari, S.E., M.M. | 2018 – 2022 2022 – Sekarang |
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