The International Dispute Negotiation Competition (INTENTION) 2021 is a competition focused on the negotiation of international disputes. Organized by the Faculty of Law, Universitas Airlangga, the competition was adjudicated by a panel comprising academics, legal practitioners, including lawyers, and Indonesian diplomatic representatives serving abroad. The event brought together 16 teams from law faculties across Indonesia, including participants from Universitas Gadjah Mada, Universitas Indonesia, Diponegoro University, and other leading universities.
The competition was originally scheduled to take place at Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, from October 9–17, 2021. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all rounds were conducted virtually via Zoom, allowing participants to compete remotely without traveling to Surabaya.
INTENTION was designed to develop law students’ negotiation skills and enhance their ability to resolve legal disputes and conflicts through diplomatic and strategic approaches.
Throughout the competition, participants were required to negotiate solutions to international legal disputes involving states, international organizations, or multinational corporations. The competition featured ten international case scenarios, including:
1. The dispute over the prohibition of the hijab in the European Union between the European Union and the United Nations Human Rights Council;
2. The dispute concerning the Uyghur Muslim issue in China between China and the European Union;
3. The dispute regarding pollution and environmental contaminants between Shell Company and the Kingdom of the Netherlands;
4. Various other contemporary international legal disputes.
Participants assumed the role of international advocates, representing the interests of states, organizations, or corporate clients involved in the disputes.
Success in the competition required more than a thorough understanding of the legal issues. Participants were expected to conduct extensive research, formulate comprehensive negotiation strategies, and develop effective tactics to secure favorable outcomes for their clients.
As the cases were based on real-world disputes, competitors were required to examine the factual background of each case, its legal developments, existing resolutions, the political positions of the parties involved, relevant controversies, stakeholder interests, applicable domestic laws, and relevant international conventions and legal frameworks.
Representing Universitas Gadjah Mada, Teuku Incusy and Gabriella Joscelline successfully outperformed 15 other teams from leading universities across Indonesia. Their achievement reflected strong negotiation skills, advanced strategic thinking, persuasive communication abilities, leadership in managing negotiation dynamics, and effective advocacy throughout the competition’s seven rounds.
Although the competition was conducted online, participants noted that the intensity and pressure of the negotiations remained as challenging and engaging as an in-person event, providing a valuable and memorable learning experience in the field of international dispute resolution.
