The Doctoral Program in Legal Studies at the UGM Faculty of Law (PDIH FH UGM) continues to demonstrate its commitment to improving the quality of education for its doctoral students. This is exemplified by the organization of a "Working Retreat for the Promotor Team and 2021 Cohort Students" held on Friday, April 10, 2026. The meeting served as an intensive discussion forum for monitoring dissertation research progress and identifying solutions to the academic challenges faced by students.
The event was formally opened by the Program Secretary, Dr. Dian Agung Wicaksono, S.H., LL.M., who emphasized the importance of a clear strategy for accelerating study completion. In his address, Program Chair Prof. M. Hawin, S.H., LL.M., Ph.D. outlined the timeline and milestones that students are required to meet. He affirmed that the working retreat is intended to strengthen the interaction between students and their promotor teams, so that the dissertation completion process proceeds as planned.
In the sharing session, the promotor team offered a thorough assessment of students' research progress. Herliana, S.H., M.Com.Law., Ph.D. expressed appreciation for the research drafts produced by students, while reminding them of the importance of sustaining motivation amid the pressures of their professional lives. Dr. Rikardo Simarmata, S.H. emphasized the importance of priority management, given that the majority of doctoral students are also working as lecturers or practitioners.
The discussion deepened when Dr. Sulastriyono, S.H., M.Si. and Prof. Dr. Nurhasan Ismail, S.H., M.Si. reminded the group that communication is the key. Students were encouraged to consult actively with their promotors to prevent research stagnation and the all-too-common phenomenon of students going "off the radar" partway through their studies. As a concrete solution, Dr. Jur. Any Andjarwati, S.H., M.Jur. - who participated online - proposed the introduction of joint supervision sessions to ensure students are thoroughly prepared for the Research Results Seminar stage.
The final session featured a two-way dialogue among program administrators, promotors, and students. The 2021 cohort students raised a range of concerns -- from technical curriculum implementation matters to time constraints in collecting primary data. Through this discussion, common ground was found to align academic plans with the realities students face.
The organization of this working retreat is a concrete expression of PDIH FH UGM's support for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education). By ensuring an effective and transparent supervision system, PDIH FH UGM plays its part in producing doctoral law graduates who are competent and able to contribute to the advancement of legal scholarship in Indonesia. The synergy between student commitment and the full support of the promotor team is hoped to produce legal experts ready to meet the challenges of the times - and to do so on time.
Author : Wisnu Arya Audanta (Part-Time Staff, Doctoral Program in Law)
