PRISB, also known as the Research Center for Social and Cultural Studies, is an Indonesian research institution focused on social and cultural studies. It was established on January 21, 1974, at the Universitas Syiah Kuala, Darussalam, Banda Aceh, by the Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI) under the name of PLPIS, or Social Sciences Training Center.

The main objective behind establishing PLPIS was to promote social and cultural science research and training in Indonesia, which was not receiving much attention at the time. PLPIS gradually gained recognition as a leading institution for training social science researchers on a national scale. By 1974, the first batch of twelve researchers had completed their training and returned to their respective universities as lecturers of social sciences. The training center also attracted key experts like Stuart A. Schlegel, an anthropologist from the University of California, Santa Barbara, appointed by LIPI from 1974-1976.

The expert position was held by various individuals in subsequent years, such as Dr. Lance Castles (1976-1978), Michael Leigh (1978-1980), Robert Wessing (1980-1982), and Wolfgang Clauss (1982-1985). Prof. M. Ali Basyah Amin (1981-1984) succeeded as director after the previous expert’s tenure. Dr. William Liddle (1985-1987) was the last international expert appointed as PLPIS and received funds from the Toyota Foundation, Japan, which ceased its financial support in 1990. As a result, research activities were constrained by costs.

The Universitas Syiah Kuala, led by Professor Ali Basyah Amin, decided to support the existence of PLPIS with funds from the university and renamed it the Research Center of Social and Cultural Studies (PPISB) of Universitas Syiah Kuala. The first director under the new name of PPISB was Prof. Dr. Dayan Dawood (1984-1993) succeeded by Prof. H. Dr. Hakim Nyak Pha, DEA, and then by Dr. Gade Ismail, M.A (1994-2001). After Mr. Gade Ismail passed away, Prof.H. Dr. Hakim Nyak Pha, DEA (2001-2003) took over but had to resign after being appointed as Head of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia. The research center experienced stagnancy for several years until Prof. Dr. Bahrein T. Sugihen, MA, was appointed as the next director of PPISB from 2006-2008.

Prof. Dr. Samsul Rizal (2008-2010) succeeded Prof. Dr. Bahrein T. Sugihen, MA, and held the position while serving as the vice-rector for academic affairs of Universitas Syiah Kuala. Dr. Husaini Ibrahim, MA (2010-2014), took over as director after Prof. Dr. Samsul Rizal. During his tenure, PPISB was able to conduct research and training, producing seven researchers who later worked for UIN Ar Raniry and Universitas Syiah Kuala. Dr. Saleh Sjafei, a sociologist who graduated from the Universitas Indonesia, succeeded Dr. Husaini Ibrahim as the next director of PPISB. Since then, the director’s appointment duration has been reduced to one year.