Sudjiran Resosudarmo
Sudjiran Resosudarmo was an Indonesian geographer and teacher. He was the rector of Institut Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan Jakarta, now known as the State University of Jakarta, from 1980 till 1984.
Career
Sudjiran began his teaching career in Bali during the prolonged struggle for Indonesian independence, then moved to Jakarta, teaching in primary and secondary schools. There he met his wife, Satimah Mardjana. They raised four children: Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih, Marlinda Budiningsih, Budy P. Resosudarmo, and Damaryanti Suryaningsih.In the early 1960s, Sudjiran joined the newly established teacher training institute, Institut Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan Jakarta, which was the Faculty of Education at the Universitas Indonesia before. He devoted his career to IKIP Jakarta, becoming Professor of Geography in 1978, Dean for the Faculty of Social Science and Rector, as well as the government coordinator for all private universities in Jakarta.
His career was devoted to teaching. and helping others. His research focused on climatology issues and ecological balance In 1977, he coordinated a National Education Team for Formal Education to promote environmental education throughout Indonesia.
He published several books, among others are
• Ilmu Bumi Alam. Untuk Sekolah Menengah Atas. Ganaco: Bandung, 1977.
• Atlas Dunia. Untuk Sekolah Menengah. Jambatan: Jakarta 1968.
• Pengantar Ekologi. Bandung: Remadja Karya, 1984.
He was a special consultant on the development of one of the first dictionaries of geology and geography terms in Indonesia: Kamus Istilah Geology dan Geography.
In 1960s, Sudjiran played an important role in developing East-West Center ’s activities in Indonesia. Despite deteriorating relations between the United States and Indonesia during that period, Sudjiran's mentoring of American students interested in Indonesia was the embodiment of EWC ideals. He helped them prepare for study in Indonesia, and, once there, his extended family welcomed them into their homes; often during trying economic times. For his contribution to the EWC, since 2019, his name has been listed in the EAST-WEST Center Wall of Honor.
Education
Sudjiran Resosudarmo was born on 13 February 1920 in a small village in Boyolali District, Central Java, called Cepoko Sawit. As some grew up in a small village, Sudjiran's educational opportunities were limited, by the Dutch colonial government, to 3 years of elementary education. Determined, however, he continued on to a teacher training school for "natives" ; embarking upon an academic road which led to an undergraduate degree in Jakarta and on to the East-West Center and graduate degree programs in the United States of America.He received his Sarjana degree in Geography Education in 1965 from Universitas Indonesia, his M.A. in geography from the University of Hawaii in 1970; followed by a Ph.D. in 1977. The title of his dissertation is Climatic Water Balance and Agricultural Production in the Northern Plain of West Java.