The name "University Res Publica" was taken from a presidential address delivered by President Sukarno,[citation needed] and means "for the public interest".

At a demonstration demanding President Suharto's resignation, soldiers opened fire on unarmed protestors.

The shootings contributed to widespread student unrest and rioting during the Indonesian Revolution of 1998, which led to the resignation of President Suharto.

The university has nine faculties: Universitas Trisakti has achieved world recognition in general, and particularly for the quantity and quality level of the job uptake for graduates.

The uptake of the working world can be measured with the alumni position indicator, the waiting span to get a job, the suitability of science, and the recognition of user graduates.

Based on the alumni search results year 2013/2014, data showed that the average waiting span to get a job for graduates is less than three months, and considered very good; and good on the attributes of integrity, professionalism, communication, cooperation, self-development, and IT skills ability.

Until the academic year 2013/2014, there are 104.247 graduates who occupy important positions in the country, such as Governor of Jakarta and the Chairman of the House of Representatives.

Besides, there are alumni who work abroad, such as in America, Europe, Australia, Canada, Africa, Middle East, China, Malaysia and Singapore.

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) obtained Universitas Trisakti in the academic year 2013/2014 amounted to 20.

In addition to regular PKM, there is also a working visit from Terengganu Malaysia University on 24–29 March 2014, chaired by Prof. Madya, Dr. Nur Azura Bt Sanusi.

In the academic year 2013/2014 KUM-ITT program has been implemented in six villages locations of three districts in Pandeglang, Banten.