A touching moment unfolded during the inauguration of Professor Sarjiya at the Senate Hall of UGM on Thursday (Feb. 1).
Professor Sarjiya, a lecturer in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology at the Faculty of Engineering, UGM, spoke with a trembling voice and teary eyes as he delivered his inaugural address. He had to pause briefly several times to wipe away his tears.
Born 51 years ago in Kulon Progo, Professor Sarjiya was raised in a modest family in Lendah, Kulon Progo. His father, Pujidiyono, toiled as a laborer in the limestone kiln, while his mother, Sumirah, traversed the streets of Yogyakarta daily to sell coconut sugar.
“My parents made the courageous decision to support and finance my education,” he recounted.
Professor Sarjiya reminisced about his parents, who never had the opportunity for formal education and lacked literacy skills due to never attending school. Nonetheless, they were resolute in providing him with an education, even if it meant sacrificing his younger sister’s schooling.
“I offer my heartfelt apologies to my sister, Suparsih, who was unable to pursue her high school education despite her outstanding performance in junior high school exams due to our family’s financial constraints that made it impossible for us to attend school simultaneously,” said the fourth child among five siblings.
“May the sacrifices made by my siblings be rewarded with abundant blessings from the Almighty.”
Following his address, Professor Sarjiya promptly approached his mother and bowed before her. He embraced her tightly before exchanging greetings with his four sisters. Unfortunately, his father was unable to attend his inauguration as he had passed away.
“Thank you, Mom,” Professor Sarjiya murmured, his voice quivering.
Professor Sarjiya completed his primary education at SDN Pengkol in 1987 then graduated from junior high school at SMP Brosot in 1990. He completed his high school education at SMAN 1 Teladan Yogyakarta in 1993. He commenced his undergraduate studies in Electrical Engineering at UGM shortly after.
He pursued his master’s degree in Electrical Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, graduating in 2002, and completed his doctoral studies in the Electrical Engineering program at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand.
In his inaugural speech titled “Integration of Variable Renewable Energy in Planning and Operating Power Systems Towards Sustainable Energy Transition,” Professor Sarjiya underscored the imperative of optimizing renewable and non-renewable energy sources to achieve sustainable energy transition in Indonesia.
Given the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources, effectively integrating them into the grid to meet the nation’s energy demands poses myriad challenges. Hence, innovation in power system planning and operation is indispensable to ensure the provision of reliable, secure, and high-quality electricity services to consumers at affordable costs.
Author: Gusti Grehenson
Photographer: Donnie