The Faculty of Law at Gadjah Mada University (FH UGM) has once again achieved success on the international stage. A delegation from the Alternative Dispute Resolution Enhancement Society (ATHENS) at FH UGM, consisting of Ariel Tehilla H. Marbun (FH UGM Class of 2022) and Marcell Pesah Liano Zega (FH UGM Class of 2023), successfully secured third place in the prestigious International Dispute Negotiation Competition (INTENTION) 2025 held in Surabaya. Not only that, but Ariel also received a special award as Best Negotiator—an achievement that further strengthens the Faculty of Law, UGM’s reputation for producing high-achieving students on a global scale.
The team’s journey toward this achievement was an intensive learning process marked by perseverance and teamwork. Preparations began well before the competition, with a clear division of roles between the lead speaker and the strategist, ensuring that every negotiation proposal remained realistic yet tactical. Both consistently practiced through role-playing, devising various negotiation scenarios, and even honing their expressions and intonation to build persuasive communication without coming across as aggressive.
The online preliminary round served as the first test for the UGM Faculty of Law delegation. There was no grand stage—just laptop screens and an internet connection that could cut out at any moment. The limitations of the virtual space did not dampen their enthusiasm to give their best performance. In fact, it was precisely there that they learned to stay focused, control the pace of the discussion, and remain communicative despite the confined space.
Successfully advancing through this online stage propelled the team to the next round in Surabaya, where the competitive atmosphere grew even more intense. Each opponent had a different negotiation style—some were direct, while others were diplomatic—so the team had to continually adapt and adjust its strategy in every round. One of the most memorable moments occurred when Ariel impressed the panel of judges with his solid command of the discussion. That performance earned him the title of Best Negotiator, an accolade that highlights the quality of communication skills and legal analysis demonstrated by UGM Law School students.
In the final announcement, FH UGM was named third-place winner. For Ariel and Marcell, this achievement was not just about the title, but also proof of their success in maintaining consistency, teamwork, and the ability to adapt to the dynamics of negotiation. Moreover, INTENTION 2025 provided a valuable experience regarding the true meaning of negotiation: not merely winning an argument, but building mutual understanding and fair solutions for all parties.
Pencapaian ini sejalan dengan Inisiatif ini juga sangat selaras dengan Tujuan Pembangunan Berkelanjutan (SDGs). Pertama, inisiatif ini berkontribusi terhadap SDG 16: Perdamaian, Keadilan, dan Lembaga yang Kuat, khususnya dengan mendorong akses inklusif terhadap keadilan serta memperkuat lembaga hukum yang responsif terhadap kelompok rentan. Kedua, inisiatif ini mendukung SDG 10: Pengurangan Ketimpangan dengan mendorong akses yang setara terhadap layanan hukum bagi penyandang disabilitas. Selain itu, perlindungan kelompok rentan, terutama perempuan penyandang disabilitas, juga terkait dengan SDG 5: Kesetaraan Gender. Inisiatif ini sejalan dengan Tujuan Pembangunan Berkelanjutan (SDGs), khususnya SDG 16: Perdamaian, Keadilan, dan Kelembagaan yang Tangguh, karena mendorong penguatan mekanisme penyelesaian sengketa yang damai dan adil melalui jalur negosiasi. Selain itu, proses kompetisi yang berbasis riset, latihan intensif, dan kerja sama tim turut mendukung SDG 4: (Pendidikan Berkualitas) dengan memfasilitasi pembelajaran praktis di luar kelas. Tidak hanya itu, interaksi dengan delegasi dari berbagai perguruan tinggi juga mencerminkan SDG 17: (Kemitraan untuk Mencapai Tujuan), di mana kolaborasi lintas institusi berkontribusi pada terciptanya jaringan akademik yang inklusif dan berkelanjutan.
Author: Delegation of the Faculty of Law, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FH UGM)
