On March 11, 2020, the Faculty of Law at Universitas Gadjah Mada (FH UGM), together with NUFFIC NESO Indonesia and the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Indonesia, held the Indonesia-Netherlands Scientific Cooperation Symposium, themed "Reflections and Hopes for Future Cooperation in the Field of Law." The symposium was also organized in the context of the State Visit to Indonesia by H.M. King Willem-Alexander and H.M. Queen Maxima of the Netherlands.
The rule of law development partnership between institutions in Indonesia and the Netherlands dates back more than fifty years (Rob Swartbol, 2018). This Indonesia-Netherlands rule of law collaboration has demonstrated that both countries can benefit from learning from one another. On one hand, the Indonesian and Dutch legal systems share numerous similarities in both their legal substance and legal structure. On the other hand, in the context of rapid and globalizing economic, technological, and social change, Indonesia and the Netherlands face many of the same challenges.
Beyond reflecting on the educational cooperation in law already established between Indonesian and Dutch institutions, the symposium also aimed to discuss and identify future collaboration opportunities between the two countries. The event was attended by dozens of invited guests from diverse backgrounds -- academics, practitioners, and NGO activists -- including many who travelled specifically from the Netherlands.
Held in Room 3.1.1 of FH UGM, the Legal Symposium was opened by Prof. Dr. Sigit Riyanto, S.H., LL.M., Dean of the UGM Faculty of Law, and Peter van Tuijl, Director of Nuffic NESO Indonesia, who also co-moderated the symposium throughout.
Following the opening remarks, the symposium began with presentations on several ongoing Indonesia-Netherlands institutional partnerships, including: (1) the partnership between the UGM Faculty of Law and Leiden University on the Strengthening Legal Education in Eastern Indonesia (SLEEI) project; (2) the partnership between Universitas Airlangga's Faculty of Law and the University of Maastricht on the 21st Century Legal Professionals for the Rule of Law project; and (3) the partnership between Universitas Indonesia's Faculty of Law and VU Amsterdam on the Cyber-Security Education in Indonesia through a Multidisciplinary Approach of Study Programs and Innovative Technologies project. Several participants then raised questions regarding the implementation of these projects.
The symposium continued with presentations from the Centre for International Legal Cooperation (CILC) and the Institute for Research and Advocacy for an Independent Judiciary (LeIP) on the Peer 2 Peer 4 Justice Indonesia-Netherlands Legal Network. The symposium at the Faculty of Law concluded with a presentation by Prof. Dr. Maurice Adams, LL.M., MA, Professor of General Jurisprudence and Vice Dean for Education at Tilburg Law School, on the topic of "Educating about Legal Research -- Legal Research within Education."
Following the symposium, all invited guests enjoyed a lunch reception, before attending the State Visit activities by H.M. King Willem-Alexander and H.M. Queen Maxima at the UGM Senate Hall.
