East Nusa Tenggara - (Thursday, September 18, 2025) On the third day, the Faculty of Law, Gadjah Mada University (FH UGM), through the Legal Consultation and Assistance Center (PKBH), together with the Faculty of Law, Widya Mandira Catholic University (FH Unwira) continued their multiple helix collaboration with Desamind and FH Unwira in East Nusa Tenggara. On the third day, the program was held in the Indonesia-Timor Leste border region, specifically in Napan Village, North Bikomi District, North Central Timor Regency, NTT, with a primary focus on legal counseling. This agenda involved government officials, namely the Head of Napan Village and the Napan Village community. The implementation of this university's Tri Dharma was also supported by the participation of Sinarmas Mining, which is committed to contributing significantly to community service activities through FH UGM.
The flagship community service agenda on the third day took place from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. WITA and was attended by various parties, including FH UGM, FH UNWIRA, the Napan Village Government, KKN FH Unwira students, and the surrounding community. The flagship community service began with a visit to the border area, followed by an outreach session at the Napan Village Office
The event began with remarks from various parties, including Prof. Dr., Heribertus Jaka Triyana S.H., LL.M., M.A. as Deputy Dean for Research, Community Service, and Information Systems at FH UGM. "We, from the Faculty of Law UGM, would like to express our gratitude for the opportunity to carry out outstanding community service in the border area of Napan Village. This year, outstanding community service is the main program of the Dean of the Faculty of Law UGM, Mrs. Dahliana Hasan, S.H., M.Tax., Ph.D. as a manifestation of the Tri Dharma of higher education that has a real impact on society,“ said Prof. Heribertus Jaka Triyana.
This legal counseling was presented with the topic of Village Regulations with the main theme related to ”The Formation of Formal and Material Village Regulations." Lecturer from FH UGM, Andy Omara S.H., M.Pub&Int.Law., Ph.D. presented a topic focusing on “Formulation of Good Village Regulations” and Almonika Cindy Fatika Sari S.H., M.A. presented material on “Strategic Substance of Village Regulations in Border Areas”. In addition to the two speakers from FH UGM, this legal counseling also involved Dr. Ferdinandus Ngau Lobo from FH Unwira as the moderator.
The legal counseling, which was attended by 50 local community members, also discussed various current issues and customs that apply in the community. "It is important to recognize and acknowledge the customary forests here. Customary forests need to be recorded and registered so that they are not only recognized by customary law but also by national law," said Almonika Cindy Fatika Sari during the question and answer session. The implementation of this activity was also inseparable from the participation of students from the Unwira Faculty of Law's Community Service Program (KKN). The implementation of this community service activity is expected to form a sustainable collaboration between the UGM Faculty of Law and the Unwira Faculty of Law in the formation of Village Regulations as a form of special regulatory instruments for border areas.
This activity is clear evidence of the implementation of the Tri Dharma of higher education in community life. “The local community has expressed their aspirations that there are issues, such as livestock control, which need to be evaluated in the future, or certain issues that are not yet regulated in the Village Regulations and therefore need to be followed up,” said one of the Unwira Faculty of Law students.
Not limited to that, the Head of Napan Village also added, “Here, I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to Unwira and UGM for coming and providing us with some insights on how to implement good and proper law in villages, regions, and even in Indonesia.”
The third day of this flagship community service activity is also aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations. Through the legal counseling on the drafting of Village Regulations, this initiative contributes to SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, by strengthening legal governance at the village level and encouraging community participation in building inclusive regulations. The discussion on the recognition of customary forests also supports SDG 15: Life on Land, as it emphasizes the importance of protecting and managing natural resources under both national and customary law. In addition, the legal counseling involving lecturers, students, and the local community contributes to SDG 4: Quality Education, by providing a practical learning space on law and village governance that is relevant to the needs of border communities. The synergy between FH UGM, FH Unwira, village government, and the private sector reflects the implementation of SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, where multi-stakeholder collaboration becomes key in delivering sustainable solutions for border communities. Thus, this activity not only provides legal education but also strengthens the foundation of village development that is just, sustainable, and community-centered.
Authors: Benediktus Concilio Sinaga, Sahl Radian Setyaki, Adetia Surya Maulana (PKBH Faculty of Law UGM)
