The Faculty of Law at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) has successfully held a Workshop on Course Evaluation and Preparation for the Master of Legal Studies (MIH) program for the even semester of the 2024/2025 academic year. Held in Room 3.1.1 of the UGM Faculty of Law, this event involved representatives from ten departments, including department chairs and course instructors. The workshop aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the previous semester’s courses while developing teaching strategies that are more responsive to global legal developments and professional needs in the legal field.
During the workshop, in-depth presentations and discussions were held regarding the effectiveness of the current curriculum, including adjustments to the weighting of Semester Credit Units (SKS) and the development of academic clusters more relevant to contemporary legal challenges. Key points of discussion included updates to the structure of required and elective courses, as well as proposals to add new clusters such as Digital Business Law and International Environmental Law. Additionally, the workshop addressed strengthening the criminal justice system and practical legal skills to better prepare graduates for the workforce.
The outcomes of this workshop are strongly relevant to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). First, SDG 4: Quality Education, which emphasizes the importance of access to inclusive and high-quality higher education. By evaluating and refining the curriculum, the MIH Program at UGM strives to create a learning system that is more adaptive and relevant to the needs of the times. Second, SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, which highlights the importance of legal education in building a just and transparent society. The development of more context-based courses is expected to equip students with a deeper understanding of the law as well as the skills needed to contribute to the enforcement of just laws. Furthermore, discussions on business law and the digital economy are also linked to SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, which emphasizes the need for regulations that support strong and sustainable, law-based economic development.
Through the holding of this workshop, the UGM Faculty of Law reaffirms its commitment to providing a legal education that is not only academically excellent but also relevant to contemporary developments and global challenges. Periodic evaluations and curriculum innovations will continue to be implemented to ensure that graduates possess high levels of competence and are able to make tangible contributions to the fields of law and public policy.
Author: Master of Laws Program, Universitas Gadjah Mada
