Economics Faculty Universitas Indonesia
Starting from the university's inception in 1950, Tan Goan-Po taught at the Economics Faculty of Universitas Indonesia, specializing in economic theory. From 1951 to 1957, Sumitro Djojohadikusumo assumed the chairmanship of the economics department, and Tan Goan-Po held the number-two position as the Secretary to the Faculty (Vice Chairman) from 1955 to 1957. They were the only two Indonesian professors trained in economics teaching in the department and were assisted by Dutch lecturers. The drought of qualified economists worsened when the Dutch lecturers began to leave the country as tensions grew between the Netherlands and Indonesia as a result of the West Papua conflict. To fill the gap, beginning in 1957, Sumitro and Tan selected a few students to continue their economics studies sponsored by the Ford Foundation at the University of California, Berkeley. The plan was for these students to become instructors at Universitas Indonesia immediately after the completion of their studies. While the students were sent abroad with the intention to fill the economics faculty gap at Universitas Indonesia, most instead ended up taking government positions during the Suharto era. These students, dubbed as the Berkeley Mafia, resuscitated the Indonesian economy, which was brought to the brink of disaster as a result of President Sukarno's "Guided Economy" and "socialism a la Indonesia. "
The economics department of Universitas Indonesia produced many influential economists who held key positions in government. Mohammad Sadli and Subroto, both officially promoted by Tan Goan-Po, were the first two students to earn a doctorate degree in 1957 from Universitas Indonesia, and both students later became cabinet members in addition to holding numerous other important posts. The legacy of Universitas Indonesia includes famous economists Widjojo Nitisastro, Suhadi Mangkusuwondo, Soemarlin, Daoed Jusuf, Ali Wardhana, Emil Salim, Pang Lay-Kim (J. Pangestu), and Thee Kian-Wie.