Soepojo Padmodipoetro

Soepojo Padmodipoetro (22 December 192215 April 1997) was an Indonesian academic and diplomat. He served as the Chairman of the Presidium of the Gadjah Mada University from 1967 to 1968, Secretary General of the Department of Education and Culture from 1968 to 1972, and as the permanent delegate of Indonesia to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization from 1972 to 1977.

Early life and career Born on 22 December 1922 in Banyumas, Central Java, Soepojo completed his education at the Hollandsch Inlandsche Kweekschool in 1943. He then began teaching at an elementary school in Bandung from 1943 to 1945. He returned to Banyumas after British forces occupied the elementary school. He joined the fledgling Indonesian Army during the Indonesian National Revolution and was enlisted as a sergeant until 1950. In the midst of war, Soepojo continued his education at the advanced teacher's school until the third grade, and received his high school diploma from a state high school.

Following the end of the war, Soepojo resigned from the army and began studying economics at the-then newly established Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in 1950. During his studies, Soepojo joined the Union of Indonesian Students, and also taught at the Taman Ksatria Junior High School from 1951 until 1953 and at the Padmanaba High School in 1954.

He received his baccalaureate (sarjana muda, , equivalent to an associate degree in the Western higher education system) in economics in 1954. In the midst of continuing his studies for a full bachelor's degree in UGM, the university sent him to the University of Minnesota to study state finance. He received his Master of Arts from the University of Minnesota in 1962 and a doctorandus in economics in 1965.

The presidium had several shortcomings. Soepojo himself was not a doctor, meaning he could not attend UGM's senate meetings, despite being the highest administrator of the university. The presidium was dissolved He served as the permanent delegate of Indonesia to UNESCO with the rank of ambassadors from 1972 until August 1977. He presented his credentials as permanent delegate to director general René Maheu on 8 September 1972. He then became an expert staff to the Minister of Education and Culture Daoed Joesoef and Chair of the Indonesian Committee for UNESCO. He retired in 1987 and resided in Jakarta. He also assumed office as the chairman of the supervisory board of the state-owned Balai Pustaka publishing company since 11 May 1993.

Personal life Soepojo was married to Sri Patonah. Soepojo died on 15 April 1997 and was buried at the Taman Kusir Public Cemetery.