The Department of Agrarian Law at the Faculty of Law, UGM, paid a visit to the ATR/BPN Land Office of West Manggarai Regency on Monday (June 23, 2025). This visit is part of the Department’s work program to enhance faculty members’ capacity while strengthening institutional ties with local land agencies. The event took place at the Land Office located at Jl. Frans Nala, Batu Cermin, Labuan Bajo, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM WITA. The Department of Agrarian Law at the Faculty of Law, UGM, was led by Dr. Jur. Any Andjarwati, S.H., M.Jur., as Department Head, and was also attended by Prof. Dr. Nurhasan Ismail, S.H., M.Si., Prof. Dr. Thomas Schmitz, Dr. Rikardo Simarmata, S.H., Rafael Edy Bosko, S.H., M.IL., and Anggita Mustika Dewi, S.H., M.Kn.
During this meeting, participants discussed various strategic land issues, such as land planning and allocation for the tourism sector, the management of HPL land under the control of BPOPLB-Flores, conflicts over land ownership and use, and the protection of community rights to land and water in the Labuan Bajo National Tourism Area. This activity was also intended to enrich the curriculum on agrarian law and bridge the gap between theory and practice in the field.
It is hoped that this visit will strengthen cooperation between academics and practitioners, as well as support the implementation of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education, particularly in the areas of education and community service.
This initiative supports the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG 4 on quality education is reflected in the efforts of the Department of Agrarian Law at the Faculty of Law, UGM, to enrich teaching materials and enhance faculty members’ capacity through hands-on field experience, ensuring that higher education is not solely theory-based but also connected to real-world practice. SDG 11 on inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities and human settlements is reflected in discussions regarding land planning and management in strategic tourism areas, including the protection of public spaces and access to land for local communities.
In addition, this initiative is also linked to SDG 1 on the eradication of poverty, as it addresses the protection of land rights for vulnerable groups to ensure they do not lose access to economic resources. SDG 10 on reducing inequalities is also represented through a focus on equity in land tenure and land use, while discussions on land and water management contribute to SDG 15 on terrestrial ecosystems, particularly in maintaining environmental sustainability in coastal areas. Finally, this collaboration between academics and local governments also embodies SDG 17 on partnerships to achieve the goals, which emphasizes the importance of cross-sectoral synergy in addressing development challenges.
Writer: Part-time Staff, Department of Agrarian Law, Faculty of Law, UGM
