History
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DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY
FACULTY OF MATHEMATICS AND NATURAL SCIENCES
UNIVERSITAS INDONESIA
The establishment of the Department of Geography FMIPA UI began in the 1950s, initiated by the Indonesian Army – in this case, General Gatot Subroto – driven by the desire to provide experts in map creation and analysis for military purposes. Since its inauguration on November 27, 1959, all lectures were held at the Geography Institute of the Topographic Office (Jantop) of the Indonesian Army, located at Jl. Dr. Wahidin No. 11, Gunung Sahari, Central Jakarta. At that time, the Department of Geography was under the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences of Padjadjaran University (FIPPA-Unpad) in Bandung, led by Dean Prof. de Neve.
Based on the Decree of the Director General of Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Culture, Number 79, dated October 8, 1966, the management of the Department of Geography was transferred to the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia (FMIPA–UI), which at that time was still located in the Eijkman Institute building (Department of Health) at Jl. Diponegoro 69, as part of the Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital complex. The department later moved to a new four-story building on the Salemba Campus of UI, Jl. Salemba 4. However, the teaching activities and administrative operations of the Department of Geography were not centralized at the Salemba campus until 1975. With the completion of the Universitas Indonesia campus in Depok, West Java, in 1987, the teaching and administrative activities of the Department of Geography were transferred from Salemba to Depok. In Depok, the Department of Geography occupies the first and second floors of the E Building FMIPA UI, alongside the Department of Biology on the third and fourth floors. The green and scenic campus environment in Depok creates a conducive atmosphere for academic activities.
Since its establishment, the Department of Geography has offered an undergraduate program. The number of students who enrolled in the first cohort was more than 100, but only 10 graduated from the preparatory level, and only 6 successfully earned their bachelor's degree: Ahmad Ramli Sabirin, Ahmad Sayuti, Boesriati, Nazir Haryanto, Rahmat Bratamihardja, and Razif Rifai. Meanwhile, in the second cohort, of the 102 students enrolled, only 15 passed the preparatory level. Of those, only two successfully earned their bachelor's degree: Asmarul Amri and Wihatmo. During their time, the *Harian Pedoman* – the largest newspaper at the time – reported on the fieldwork activities of the FIPPA UNPAD Geography students in West Java, as one of the students, Elly Kasim, was known as a famous singer.
The first Head of the Department of Geography was Brigadier General (Ret.) Drs. Azwar Hamid with Secretary Drs. Ahmad Sajoeti (1959 – 1975). The lecturers were senior officers from the Indonesian Army Topographic Service and several scientists, including Prof. Dr. Ing. Soenaryo (Geodesy and History of Cartography), Dra. Gouw Wie Fung (Cartography), Dr. M. Achsan Sunartadirja (Geomorphology), Drs. Boedio Basri (Geomorphology and Southeast Asian Region), Dr. I Made Sandy (Cartography, Aerial Photo Interpretation, and Land Use), Drs. Khoe Soe Khiam/Sasanasurya (Philosophy and Methodology of Geography), Dr. J. Bhatta – an expert in Jantop Indonesian Army from India (Demography), Dr. Uka Tjandrasasmita (Physical/Cultural Anthropology, Indonesian History), Ir. Soehoed from the Bogor Soil Research Center (Soil Body Science), Ir. Bambang Soelasmoro and Ir. Roefaiki (Geology), Mr. Samimi - Iranian nationality (English), Prof. Dr. Moestopo (Pancasila). During the tenure of Drs. Azwar Hamid, all Lecturers had Extraordinary status and almost all came from various government agencies, but in their dedication they were supported by two administrative staff, Mrs. Liek Moertini and Mrs. Admiatun and three cleaning service officers with civil servant status. It should also be noted that the Head of the Geography Department, Drs. Azwar Hamid, when he was a Colonel, was appointed by the Soekarno Government to be the Head of the Cartenz Peak Climbing Expedition Team (Jayawijaya) + 4884 meters above sea level in 1964, the expedition was successful with members including Dr. I Made Sandy.
Since 1975, Drs. Boedio Basri and Drs. Asmarul Amri served as the daily administrators of the Department of Geography until Dr. I Made Sandy was elected as the next Head of the Department in 1978. On March 30, 1988, Dr. I Made Sandy was inaugurated as an Extraordinary Professor at the Department of Geography, FMIPA-UI. During his 15 years as Head of the Department, Prof. Dr. I Made Sandy was assisted by Department Secretaries Drs. Cholifah Bahaudin, MA (1978-1983), Drs. Djoni Sukanta (1982-1985), and Drs. Hari Kartono (1985–1993). In 1993, Drs. Hari Kartono, MS succeeded Prof. Dr. I Made Sandy as Head of the Department. The complete list of Heads and Secretaries of the Department of Geography FMIPA UI since 1985 as follows :
- 1985 – 1993 : Prof. Dr. I Made Sandy (Chairman) and Drs. Hari Kartono (Secretary)
- 1993 – 1997 : Drs. Hari Kartono, MS (Chairman) and Drs. Sugeng Rahardjo, MS (Secretary)
- 1997 – 2000 : Drs. Sugeng Rahardjo, MS (Chairman) and Dra. Widyawati, MSP (Secretary)
- 2000 – 2004 : Dra. Widyawati, MSP (Chairperson) and Drs. Supriatna, MT (Secretary)
- 2004 – 2008 : Dr. re.nat. Eko Kusratmoko, MS (Chairman) and Hafid Setiadi, S.Si, MT (Secretary)
- 2008 – 2010 : Dr. rer.nat. Eko Kusratmoko, MS (Chairman) and Dr. Rokhmatuloh, M.Eng (Secretary)
- 2010 – 2014 : Dr. rer.nat. Eko Kusratmoko, MS (Chairman) and Dra. M.H Dewi Susilowati (Secretary)
- 2014 – 2016 : Dr. Djoko Harmantyo, MS
- 2016 – 2018 : Dr. Eko Kusratmoko, MS
- 2018 – 2022 : Dr. Supriatna, M.T
- 2022 – 2026 : Prof. Dr. Supriatna, M.T
Since 1995, in collaboration with the Directorate of TISDA, Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) led by Dr. Ir. Indroyono Soesilo, M.Sc; Dr. Ir. Iwan Gunawan, M.Sc, Dr. Asep Karsidi, MS, and Dr. Idwan Suhardi, M.Sc, the Department of Geography has established a research center named the Center for Applied Geography Research (PPGT) or Center for Applied Geography Research. Drs. Cholifah Bahaudin, MA and Drs. Sugeng Rahardjo, MS were elected as the first Head and Secretary of PPGT respectively. The center has successfully conducted various research projects, training programs, and services across multiple activities. PPGT actively develops research and training collaborations with various government and private agencies as well as international institutions such as the World Bank, JICA, ADB, IEED, ESRI, UNIGIS, UN Habitat, MercyCorps, University of Sydney (Australia), and University of Twente (Netherlands).
In 1996, the Department of Geography began to design the establishment of a Masters Program in Geography. This preparation involved experts from the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) such as Dr. Indroyono Soesilo, M.Sc, Dr. Iwan Gunawan, M.Sc, Dr. Asep Karsidi, MS, and Dr. Idwan Suhardi as well as experts from other related institutions such as the Indonesian Institute of Sciences/LIPI (Dr. Raldi H. Koestoer, M.Sc), the National Land Agency/BPN (Dr. Risnarto), the National Space Agency/LAPAN (Prof. Dr. Sri Hardijanti Purwadhi, M.S), and the National Mapping Coordinating Agency/Bakosurtanal (Dr. Aris Poniman). The meetings were coordinated by a peer group chaired by Prof. DR. I Made Sandy. Two years later, precisely in May 1998, the Ministry of Education and Culture issued a Decree on the establishment of the Masters Program in Geography, hereinafter referred to as the Masters Program in Geography. Administratively, this program is under the UI Postgraduate Program (PPs UI). In July 1998, this Masters Program started its first class under the leadership of Dr. Djoko Harmantyo, MS (Program Head) and Drs. Triarko Nurlambang, MA (Program Secretary).
Effective January 1, 2000, the Department of Geography moved into a new four-story building, the H Building of FMIPA UI, which was constructed with government funding. In the same year, along with the granting of BHMN status to the University of Indonesia (PP No. 152 of 2000 dated December 26, 2000), the Geography Department was renamed the Department of Geography. Along with that, the management of the Masters Program was transferred to FMIPA UI through the Department of Geography.
By the end of 2020, the Geography Undergraduate Program has produced more than 2000 bachelors. Meanwhile, the Geography Masters Program, which was established in 1998, has produced more than 200 masters. Graduates work both as government and private employees related to geographical knowledge such as urban and regional planning consultants, environmental consultants, population studies, Geographic Information System and Remote Sensing services, and many more.
Currently, the Department of Geography is increasingly required to provide real contributions to society, especially through the application of science and technology and the provision of quality human resources. It is a big challenge for the Department of Geography, FMIPA UI to continue to improve its capacity and reputation to become a reference for other educational institutions in developing geography education, especially in Indonesia.
Head of Geography Department (Past - Present)
(2018 - 2026)
(2016 - 2018)
(2014 - 2016)
(2004 - 2014)
(2000 - 2004)
(1997 - 2000)
(1993 - 1997)
(1985 - 1993)
(1959 - 1975)
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