The atmosphere at the Faculty of Law of Universitas Gadjah Mada on Wednesday (17/2) became increasingly festive as flower boards conveying congratulations lined the northern side of the faculty building. Distinguished guests dressed in batik attire were also seen entering Building I of the oldest faculty at UGM.
Inside the historic building, one of the major events in the series of celebrations for the 70th Anniversary of the Faculty of Law UGM was taking place, namely the Open Senate Meeting and Scientific Oration. The event was attended by the Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning, deans, professors, senate leaders and members, civil and military officials, legal practitioners, Korpagama representatives, lecturers, alumni, and students of the Faculty of Law UGM.
The event commenced with remarks from the Chair of the Faculty Senate, followed by the singing of the Indonesian national anthem “Indonesia Raya” and the “Hymne Gadjah Mada” led by the UGM Student Choir. Subsequently, the Dean of the Faculty of Law UGM, Prof. M. Hawin, S.H., LL.M., Ph.D., delivered the Dean’s Annual Report for 2015.
The report highlighted various developments and achievements accomplished by the Faculty throughout 2015. Among the achievements were First Place in the Supreme Court Trophy competition organized by the Asian Law Students’ Association (ALSA), First Place and Best Expert in the National Moot Court Competition (NMCC) Conservation Trophy II organized by the Faculty of Law of Universitas Negeri Semarang, Second Place in the Legislative Drafting Social Science in National Law Competition organized by the Faculty of Law of Universitas Indonesia, as well as several awards at the Soedarto V Moot Court Competition organized by the Faculty of Law of Universitas Diponegoro, including Second Best Panel of Judges, Best Court Clerk, Best Prosecutor, and Best Case File.
The Dean, who is also a lecturer in commercial law, further explained that the Faculty had established domestic partnerships with various third parties, including ministries, state-owned enterprises (BUMN), regional governments, and private companies. His explanation regarding institutional collaborations concluded the Dean’s 2015 report.
At exactly 09.30 a.m., the event continued with a Scientific Oration delivered by the Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency, Drs. Ferry Mursyidan Baldan. The oration was titled “Agrarian and Spatial Planning Policies in the Era of the ASEAN Economic Community.”
At the beginning of his speech, Ferry Mursyidan Baldan expressed his happiness at being able to attend UGM, noting that the university had once been his dream campus. “I once took the entrance examination for UGM’s International Relations program, but I was not accepted. Eventually, I followed God’s path and pursued my studies at Padjadjaran University,” shared the Jakarta-born minister.
Furthermore, he explained that one implication of the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community was the increase in investment across various business sectors. The Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency had supported the acceleration of investment in Indonesia through faster land administration services, expedited dispute resolution, recognition of indigenous peoples’ land rights, agrarian reform, and spatial planning programs.
Operationally, agrarian reform in Indonesia is implemented through two major steps. First, the restructuring of the political and legal land systems based on Pancasila, the 1945 Constitution, and the Basic Agrarian Law (UUPA). Second, the implementation of “Land Reform Plus,” which includes restructuring land ownership and improving public access to economic and political resources to enable communities to utilize their land productively.
