Tokyo (9 & 13 February 2026). The Faculty of Law of Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII) conducted an exploratory cooperation visit with two leading universities in Japan, namely Kobe University and Doshisha University.
The exploration of cooperation began with Kobe University, which is widely recognized as one of the leading universities in the field of social sciences in Japan. The meeting was held on Monday, 9 February 2026, at the Kobe University campus. The delegation from the Faculty of Law UII consisted of Prof. Dr. Budi Agus Riswandi, S.H., M.Hum. (Dean of the Faculty of Law UII); Dodik Setiyawan Nur Heriyanto, S.H., M.Hum., LL.M., Ph.D. (Head of the Undergraduate Law Study Program, Faculty of Law UII); and Prof. Nandang Sutrisno, S.H., M.Hum., LL.M., Ph.D. (Professor of the Faculty of Law UII). The delegation was also accompanied by Prof. Insan Budi Maulana, S.H., LL.M., Ph.D., an alumnus of Kobe University and Managing Partner at Maulana and Partners Law Firm, as well as Ananda Ramadhan Maulana, S.H., LL.M., Partner at Maulana and Partners Law Firm.
From Kobe University, the meeting was attended by Hatta Takyua (Vice Dean and Professor, Graduate School of Law, Kobe University); Fujio Kawashima (Professor of International Economic Law, Graduate School of Law, Kobe University); Kozo Kagawa (Emeritus Professor, Kobe University and Osaka Jogakuin University); Yuka Kaneko (Professor, LL.D., Center for Social System Innovation, Kobe University); and Kadomatsu Narufumi (Professor, Faculty of Law, Kobe University).
The meeting was also attended by three Indonesian students currently pursuing master’s and doctoral studies at Kobe University, namely Ms. Novi Nurviani (GSICS Doctoral Program, Bappenas); Mr. Dzakky Hussein (KIMAP Master’s Program, School of Law, Indonesian Judge); and Ms. Vinna Inka (GSICS Master’s Course, Indonesian Prosecutor).
The meeting began with mutual introductions from both delegations, followed by presentations on each institution and their flagship academic programs. The session then continued with effective and productive discussions regarding potential areas of cooperation. From these discussions, several opportunities for collaboration were identified, including opportunities for further studies at Kobe University’s leading programs, international mobility programs for undergraduate and postgraduate students, faculty exchange involving professors in international academic programs, and potential research collaborations between the two institutions.
Prof. Dr. Budi Agus Riswandi, as Dean of the Faculty of Law UII, expressed his strong hope that this visit would result in concrete follow-up programs that would further realize the internationalization agenda that has long been promoted by the Faculty of Law UII. Meanwhile, Prof. Fujio Kawashima welcomed the visit enthusiastically and showed strong interest in developing academic cooperation, particularly in the field of Islamic economic law, considering that the Faculty of Law UII has long maintained a strong focus on the development of Islamic law, including Islamic economic law.
The meeting with Kobe University concluded with the exchange of souvenirs, a group photo session, and a campus tour.
Subsequently, on 13 February 2026 in Tokyo, the delegation of the Faculty of Law UII also met with Professor Naoshi Takasugi from Doshisha University, Professor of Private International Law and International Business Law as well as Director of the Research Center for International Transaction and Law (RECITAL). This meeting was held as part of the exploration of cooperation with Doshisha University, one of the oldest universities in Japan, established in 1875, with 14 faculties and 16 graduate schools. This background is particularly relevant, considering that UII and its Faculty of Law are also among the oldest national universities in Indonesia, established on 8 July 1945.
The cooperation exploration between the two institutions began with a joint dinner. Afterward, the delegation from the Faculty of Law UII, led by Prof. Dr. Budi Agus Riswandi, S.H., M.Hum., as Dean, together with Dodik Setiyawan Nur Heriyanto, S.H., M.H., LL.M., Ph.D., Head of the Undergraduate Law Study Program, Prof. Nandang Sutrisno, S.H., M.Hum., LL.M., Ph.D., Senior Professor, and Galih Ramadhan, S.H., M.H., LL.M., Lecturer at the Faculty of Law UII, continued the discussion on potential cooperation with Doshisha University.
The discussion was facilitated by Prof. Insan Budi Maulana, S.H., LL.M., Ph.D., and Ananda Ramadhan Maulana, S.H., LL.M., from Maulana and Partners Law Firm. From this discussion, several initial agreements were reached regarding prospective cooperation programs, including summer courses, cultural events, research collaborations, opportunities for further studies for UII law lecturers in Japan, and joint organization of international conferences between the two universities.
It was agreed that the formal cooperation process would be followed up after the visit to Japan. It is expected that this formal process can be completed within a relatively short period so that more concrete collaborative programs can be implemented promptly by both parties.
Professor Naoshi Takasugi welcomed the initiative and stated that cooperation with Indonesian universities, including Universitas Islam Indonesia, is very important, given Indonesia’s remarkable diversity, which provides significant opportunities for Doshisha University to engage in more productive academic activities. Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Budi Agus Riswandi expressed his hope that cooperation with Doshisha University would further strengthen the internationalization program of the Faculty of Law UII, enabling the faculty to actively contribute to global academic development. Moreover, this collaboration is expected to open wider opportunities for UII law students to gain broader international learning experiences in support of improving the quality of Indonesian human resources.
The effective and productive discussion concluded with the exchange of souvenirs between both parties and a group photo session.
