On Monday, 8 June 2026, a public lecture entitled “The Protection of Rohingya Refugees from the Perspective of International Law” was held at the Faculty of Law, Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII). The lecture was delivered by Fahim Abrar Abid, Founder of the Bangladesh Society of International Law (BSIL).

In his opening remarks, Dodik Setiawan Nur Heriyanto, Ph.D., Head of the Undergraduate Law Study Program, emphasized the importance of the lecture in providing a comprehensive understanding of how other countries address the protection of Rohingya refugees. He stated:

“This public lecture is highly important in providing a comprehensive understanding of how other countries have approached the protection of Rohingya refugees. The issue remains unresolved, and Southeast Asian countries have yet to establish an effective framework to address it. Therefore, it is a privilege to welcome an expert from Bangladesh, Mr. Fahim Abrar Abid, the founder of the Bangladesh Society of International Law.”

During the lecture, Fahim Abrar Abid explained that the refugee issue affects not only ASEAN countries but also other states, including Bangladesh. He particularly highlighted the challenges surrounding the protection of refugee children. According to him, Rohingya refugee children often experience unequal treatment due to the limited ratification of relevant international legal instruments and the inadequacy of national legal frameworks in ensuring effective protection for child refugees.

He further stated: “Although the Constitution of Bangladesh guarantees protection, particularly the right to education for all children within its territory, in practice, many Rohingya refugees are categorized as illegal migrants, preventing them from accessing adequate educational opportunities. In response, several legal scholars in Bangladesh have applied the Security Absorption Theory as an approach to strengthen the protection of Rohingya refugee children.”

Fahim also noted that, as of June 2026, Bangladesh hosts approximately 960,000 Rohingya refugees, with nearly half of them being children. On this occasion, the Faculty of Law UII and the Bangladesh Society of International Law (BSIL) also signed a collaboration agreement in the fields of research and teaching. The event concluded with a group photo session involving the guest speaker, faculty members, and students who attended the public lecture.

The 8^th International Student Colloquium was held today at the Universitas Islam Indonesia Law Faculty, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Speakers from Indonesia, Vietnam, and Scotland discussed the ever-important nexus of armed conflict, energy, and sustainable development.

The event began with remarks from the rector of the UII Faculty of Law. This was followed by a dance performance by the Sanggar Terpidana student group from the UII Faculty of Law. The conference was attended by approximately 150 students and researchers from various countries. The conference’s proceedings were published by the UII Faculty of Law.

The auditorium was filled with inquisitive students eager to learn about topical international issues. First, Professor Dr. Kyungchan, Dean of International Affairs of Youngsan University, South Korea, provided the historical context of maritime resilience in Indonesia and the world. Dr. Kyungchan also discussed the current energy paralysis resulting from the US-Iran conflict.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Quang Tuyen (Hanoi Law University) warned of the challenges to the clean energy transition in times of geopolitical instability. He stated that governments must ensure the law does not reproduce injustice at the local level when acquiring land for solar and wind farms. Dr Nguyen Quang Tuyen asserted that the environment is always the first victim in global crises. This is evident with the current global regression to non-renewable energy as the Strait of Hormuz closures continue to disrupt.

Leading scholar on international law, Associate Professor Nguyen Toan Thang (Hanoi Law University), emphasized the urgency of wide-ranging reform to bolster legal resilience in the face of crises. The associate professor stated that modern warfare can reverse years of clean energy progress. The reform agenda includes changes to international humanitarian law, investment law, and the ASEAN Protocol.

Students were taken aback when Professor Jihyun Park (Youngsan University) relayed that the United Nations official global war count is 130, 20 of which are in the most serious category. The professor asserted that there are significant grey areas in international humanitarian law, particularly with regard to cyber warfare. Reform must correct the increasingly inadequate legal framework—designed around 20th-century conflict parameters.

Associate Professor Dodik Setiawan Nur Heriyanto, PhD (Universitas Islam Indonesia), put forward a unique proposal for the establishment of virtual embassies. This would reduce costs significantly and offer a starting point for improved relationships where mutual trust is low. The associate professor acknowledged the challenges relating to cybersecurity but raised the 1979 US Embassy crisis in Tehran to illustrate that physical embassies are themselves not without risk.

The University of Glasgow’s Fahim Abrar Abid, LLM, introduced his research into proposed reform for sustainable development governance. Mr. Abid demanded that the Global South be an architect of reform as a major stakeholder. He also stated that human rights principles should be further entrenched in the legal framework, rather than mere ‘aesthetic language layered on top.’

While these global themes can be overwhelming and rather gloomy at times, there was a real sense of optimism and engagement in the room. Students were encouraged to accept their role as future leaders and promote important reform to improve legal resilience in times of crisis.

On Monday, 4 May 2026, approximately 10 students from the Faculty of Law, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), commenced their academic activities at the Undergraduate Law Study Program, Faculty of Law, Universitas Islam Indonesia. The presence of the UKM students formed part of the Collaborative Offline International Learning (COIL) 2026 program, which was organized as an initiative to strengthen the international academic atmosphere within the Faculty of Law UII.

All participating students attended several courses offered under the International Program, including Community Advocacy taught by Mhd. Zaki’ul Fikri, S.H., M.A., LL.M., Constitutional Law taught by Rahadian Diffaul Barraq Suwartono, S.H., M.H., and International Law taught by Dodik Setiawan Nur H., S.H., M.H., LL.M., Ph.D. All classes were conducted in English as part of the faculty’s commitment to strengthening students’ international academic competencies.

The Head of the Undergraduate Law Study Program, Faculty of Law, Universitas Islam Indonesia, Dodik Setiawan Nur H., S.H., M.H., LL.M., Ph.D., stated that the COIL program is not the first international collaborative initiative organized by the Faculty of Law UII. The program has consistently developed opportunities for cross-border academic interaction and broadened students’ learning experiences within an international environment. According to him, the presence of international students in UII law classes is expected to enhance students’ confidence in engaging in global academic settings while simultaneously strengthening institutional partnerships with foreign universities. Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of expanding future collaborations beyond teaching activities, particularly in the areas of research and community engagement.

The activity was also attended by Prof. Madya Dr. Mohammad Rizal bin Abd Rahman and Prof. Madya Dr. Mohd Zamre bin Mohd Zahir from the Faculty of Law, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, who accompanied the student delegation. In addition to accompanying the students, both academics were allowed to deliver lectures to students of the Faculty of Law UII. Prof. Madya Dr. Mohd. Zamre bin Mohd. Zahir delivered a lecture entitled “Medical Negligence from the Medical Law Perspective,” while Prof. Madya Dr. Mohammad Rizal bin Abd Rahman presented the topic “Regulating the Spread of Prohibited Content.”

The Dean of the Faculty of Law, Universitas Islam Indonesia, Prof. Dr. Budi Agus Riswandi, S.H., M.Hum., emphasized in his remarks that the Faculty of Law UII has demonstrated its readiness to compete at the global level. The international community’s growing trust in studying at the Faculty of Law UII reflects the institution’s increasing recognition within international legal education. According to him, innovative programs such as COIL 2026 serve as important instruments in strengthening the academic attractiveness of the Faculty of Law UII, particularly.

Meanwhile, the head of the delegation from the Faculty of Law, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Prof. Madya Dr. Mohd. Zamre bin Mohd. Zahir stated that the program provides an excellent platform for comparative legal studies between Indonesia and Malaysia. Through the collaborative learning approach, both students and lecturers are able to learn from the strengths and challenges of each legal system, thereby fostering constructive and sustainable academic exchange. In addition to the academic aspect, he also highlighted Yogyakarta’s strategic and cultural significance, which offers a unique experience for international students.

Waroeng Steak, Jalan Kaliurang, Yogyakarta, hosted the welcoming event for the participants of the Collaborative Offline International Learning (COIL) 2026 program. The event began with remarks from the dean of the Faculty of Law UII, followed by a response from the head of the UKM delegation, and concluded with a networking session. During the gathering, in-depth discussions were also conducted to explore potential academic collaborations beyond teaching activities.

On Monday, April 27, 2026, students of the International Program of the Undergraduate Law Study Program, Faculty of Law, Universitas Islam Indonesia, conducted a field-based learning activity focusing on the practical aspects of legislative drafting at the Legal Division of the Batam City Government and the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) of Batam City. 15 students from the International Program attended this activity.

In his opening remarks, the Head of the Legal Division of Batam City Government, Mr. Joko Satrio Sasongko, S.H., expressed his appreciation to the Faculty of Law UII for facilitating direct learning opportunities within the Batam City Government. He emphasized that Batam possesses distinct characteristics compared to other regions, both in terms of resource composition, economic structure and its designation as an industrial city as well as a free trade zone. Historically, Batam was designed by B.J. Habibie as a miniature of Indonesia, with a strategic orientation toward investment development as an alternative within the regional economic landscape, particularly in relation to Singapore. Batam is projected as a region with sustainable economic development potential.

At the initial stage of the visit, the students received an introductory presentation from Ms. Nur Asmi, S.H., M.H., regarding the structure and characteristics of the Batam City Government. It was explained that Batam covers an area of approximately 1,080 km² and is supported by around five thousand civil servants. The Batam Municipal Minimum Wage (UMK) is the highest in the Riau Islands Province, with the United States as the largest export destination. The institutional structure of governance in Batam reflects a dualism between the Batam City Government and the Batam Development Authority (BP Batam), particularly in the administration of regional management. Administratively, both institutions operate under the direct coordination of the mayor of Batam, where the head of BP Batam concurrently serves ex officio as the mayor. In the legislative domain, Batam adheres to the same regulatory framework as other regions; however, there are distinctions in authority concerning regulatory formation to support the development of the Batam area.

The team subsequently continued the field learning activity with a visit to the DPRD of Batam City. The Chairman of DPRD Batam City, Mr. Haji Muhammad Jamaludin, formally received the student delegation. In his presentation, he explained that Batam demonstrates unique normative and spatial characteristics, including regulatory zoning between industrial and residential areas. Geographically, Batam’s proximity to Singapore and its location along the strategic Malacca Strait position it as a critical node in international trade. This condition has driven Batam’s development as a transit city and as a strategic representation of Indonesia within the global context. Over the past two years, the central government has intensified its attention toward Batam, as evidenced by the issuance of four presidential regulations in early 2026 to reinforce Batam’s special status.

Furthermore, it was explained that the DPRD of Batam City performs three principal functions: legislative, budgeting, and supervisory (monitoring and evaluation). In executing its legislative function, there are notable differences compared to the national parliament (DPR RI), particularly because regional regulations (Peraturan Daerah) must align with and not contradict higher-level national legislation. Current policy orientation does not solely emphasize the quantity of regional regulations but also prioritizes regulatory effectiveness to avoid constraining the operational space of local government. The budgeting function is implemented through the formulation of the Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBD), its amendments, and periodic evaluations conducted every three months concerning governmental performance and financial reporting. In terms of supervision, the DPRD of Batam City also engages in cross-institutional coordination, including with the DPR RI, although certain authorities of the Batam Development Authority are directly coordinated with Commission VI of the DPR RI. Institutional synergy remains essential, facilitated through coordination with regional apparatuses and the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda) to strengthen governance and promote Batam’s development.

During the visit, they also conveyed that the day coincided with the commemoration of Batam Authority Day. All elements of the Regional Leadership Forum, along with institutional leaders across Batam, held ceremonial observances in their respective institutions during the morning. The visit concluded with the presentation of tokens of appreciation and a guided tour of several facilities, including the Leadership Meeting Room and the Plenary Session Hall of the DPRD of Batam City.

On Monday, April 27, 2026, a joint public lecture was held in collaboration between the Undergraduate Law Study Program (S1) of the Faculty of Law, Batam International University, and the Undergraduate Law Study Program (S1) of the Faculty of Law, Islamic University of Indonesia. On this occasion, two lecturers from these long-standing partners collaborated to deliver the public lecture: Dodik Setiawan Nur Heriyanto, SH, MH, LLM, PhD, and Ninne Zahara Silviani, SH, MH. Both speakers share a common field of expertise in international law.

The public lecture took place in a classroom in the Faculty of Law Building, Batam International University, and was attended by students from both the Undergraduate Law Study Program (S1) of the Faculty of Law, Batam International University, and the Undergraduate Law Study Program (S1) of the Faculty of Law, Islamic University of Indonesia.

The public lecture addressed the issue of “The Blockade of the Strait of Hormuz under International Law.” Approximately 60 students, along with several lecturers and academic staff from both institutions, attended. “This collaborative public lecture is a very positive thing, and of course, students will gain comparative and comprehensive knowledge. We welcome this collaboration and hope to expand it to other specific legal fields. UII and UIB have been partners for quite a long time, and it is time for collaboration in the academic field to become part of this long-standing relationship,” said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lu Sudirman, SH, MM, MHum, Dean of the Faculty of Law, UIB, while welcoming the students and lecturers from the Faculty of Law, UII.

“The topic of international legal developments in the Strait of Hormuz was chosen very appropriately, as this issue remains a hot topic. From the perspective of international maritime law, the strait should remain open, given that Article 37 of UNCLOS provides for the right of innocent passage through international straits. The Strait of Hormuz holds a strategic position as it contributes to international trade routes, particularly for the distribution of oil and gas,” explained Ninne Zahara Silviani, SH, MH, at the beginning of the lecture. Ninne Zahara Silviani, SH, MH, specializes in international maritime law.

“However, from a humanitarian law perspective, Iran has the right to defend itself. When Iran is attacked during the ongoing peace process in Oman, it has the right to retaliate. They must be prepared on land, sea, and air to retaliate against attacks by the United States and Israel. Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz is part of Iran’s strategy to strengthen its defenses. Of course, when war breaks out, all warring parties must respect and adhere to the written and unwritten principles of international humanitarian law, such as the principle of distinction, the principle of balance, and the principle of limitation,” stated Dodik Setiawan Nur Heriyanto, SH, MH, LLM, PhD, who also delivered the public lecture.

Following the presentation, students enthusiastically asked questions. Following the event, a souvenir exchange and a brief tour of several facilities at the UIB Faculty of Law were held.