Law is one of the branches of science that has the oldest development roots in the world. The development of the science of law itself can be referred to since the time of Ancient Greece with its famous philosopher, Aristotle. Currently, the progress of the development of law schools in Indonesia itself is marked by the number of law universities scattered throughout the archipelago.

Indeed, by working together, the development of law schools can be achieved; as the saying goes, “United we stand, divided we fall”. This proverb seems to be being realized by the Faculty of Law, Universitas Airlangga, which always opens up as many opportunities as possible to collaborate with other law universities. Of course, various cooperation agreements have also been signed to accelerate the development of legal science in Indonesia. This collaboration also aims to support the Merdeka Learning program for the Merdeka Campus, which was initiated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia.

One of the agencies that recently signed a cooperation agreement with the Faculty of Law, Universitas Airlangga, is the Faculty of Law, Universitas Jambi. The signing of the cooperation agreement with the Faculty of Law, Jambi University, was held directly in Surabaya on Monday, September 26, 2022, attended by Dr. Usman, S.H., M.H. as the Dean and his staff. The delegation from the Faculty of Law, Jambi University, was warmly welcomed by Iman Prihandono, S.H., M.H., LL.M., Ph.D., as the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Universitas Airlangga, and his staff.

On one occasion, Dr. Usman, S.H., M.H., expressed his happiness and thanks for being so well received in Surabaya. According to him, this cooperation agreement aims to develop legal higher education by considering that the Faculty of Law, Universitas Airlangga, now holds the best law school in Indonesia. The scope of the signed cooperation agreement includes but is not limited to the implementation of activities such as Exchange of lecturers, Joint research, Joint community service; Student exchange, and Other academic activities such as external examiners,  seminars/webinars, scientific conferences, workshops, training, fostering student activities, writing and publishing/publishing scientific works and many more.

The MBKM is a program launched by the Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemendikbudristek RI), which aims to encourage students to master various sciences as a provision to enter the world of work. MBKM programs include Bangkit Program, managed by Google, Goto, and Traveloka; Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards (IISMA); Kampus Mengajar; Kementerian ESDM – GERILYA; internships; Membangun Desa (Thematic Community Service Program); Pejuang Muda Kampus Merdeka; Independent Student Exchange (PMM); Humanitarian Project; Research; Independent Studies; and Independent Entrepreneurs.

Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), one of the institutions supporting the MBKM program, also opens registration for student exchange students throughout Indonesia. This year, the UNAIR Faculty of Law accepted 61 PMM students from various universities in Indonesia. Several universities registered for PMM to the Faculty of Law UNAIR, namely Tadulako University, Khairun University, Asahan University, West Sulawesi University, Puangrimaggalatung College of Administrative Sciences, and various other universities from outside Java. The semester range of PMM students at the Faculty of Law UNAIR ranges from semester three to semester seven. The most popular subject at the Faculty of Law UNAIR is Corruption Criminal Law.

Dr. Enny Narwati, S.H., M.H., Vice Dean I of the Faculty of Law UNAIR said the Faculty of Law UNAIR is ready to accept students from all over Indonesia because the existing infrastructure is adequate.

“UNAIR Faculty of Law is ready to accept students from all over Indonesia because they are combined with regular classes at FH (Faculty of Law, ed), so they can feel the academic atmosphere on our campus better. So we do not provide special lecturers or special classes. MBKM students may access existing infrastructure facilities. They can access the Airlangga Law Library, can enter the Airlangga Legal Education Center, and other facilities that regular students of FH UNAIR usually access. They can also participate in student activities at FH, but it is limited. For example, they cannot participate in external competitions,” said Enny.

Enny hopes that the regulation of Higher Education (Dikti) can be improved for the better so that it can support MBKM learning optimally. “We expect that the Higher Education can review the regulations. Currently, some students are enrolling in advanced courses, where they should have passed Introduction to Law, Introduction to Indonesian Law, and Criminal Law, for example. They will find it difficult to take advanced courses such as Anti-Corruption Law if they don’t study Criminal Law first,” she said.

In closing, Enny said that this MBKM positively impacted FH UNAIR and students in Indonesia. “The positive impact for FH UNAIR will increase our branding and student interest in further studies at FH UNAIR,” she concluded.

Humas(18/01) | In order to prepare students to face changes in social, cultural, world of work and rapid technological advances, student competencies must be prepared to be more adaptive to the needs of the times. Not surprisingly, universities are required to be able to design and implement innovative learning processes so that students can achieve learning outcomes covering aspects of attitudes, knowledge, and skills optimally and always relevant. Therefore, in responding to these demands, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia launched the Merdeka Learning–Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) as a form of learning in universities that are autonomous and flexible so as to create a learning culture that is innovative, unfettered, and in accordance with student needs. Various programs have also been prepared to provide opportunities for students to hone skills according to their talents and interests by going directly into the world of work as preparation for future careers.

This policy also seems to be welcomed by the Faculty of Law, Universitas Airlangga as a law university in Indonesia. This can be seen from the various steps taken to make it easier for students to take part in the Merdeka Learning – Merdeka Campus (MBKM) program. One of them is the implementation of socialization by the Coordinator of the Bachelor of Law Study Program on Monday, January 17, 2022 ago. In this activity, Amira Paripurna, S.H., LL.M., Ph.D. as the Coordinator of the Bachelor of Law Study Program, Faculty of Law, Airlangga University, conveyed several things that would later make it easier for students to take part in the Merdeka Learn-Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) program until the semester credit system conversion (credits) was carried out.

He said that there were slight adjustments to the implementation of the program so that it could be synchronized with the existing curriculum. One of them is the requirement that those who can join the program are students in the fifth semester and above. This is intended so that students can master the basics of legal science in advance so that they become more prepared. Each student is also expected to always consult with himself in order to facilitate supervision from the campus. He, who is a lecturer in the criminal law department, also explained that the principle of implementing the Merdeka Learning – Merdeka Campus (MBKM) program is to provide the widest opportunity for students with supervision and not to harm students.

The conversion mechanism for the semester credit system (credit) has also been prepared in the form of adjustments to courses, increasing grades, and providing a certificate accompanying diploma when graduating. The enthusiasm of students was also seen during the implementation of the socialization with many students attending and actively asking questions. In closing, the lecturer, who is called Mrs. Amira, said, “Don’t hesitate to join the Independent Learning-Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) program because it will be very useful and the faculty will fully support it so that there is nothing to lose for students”.

Author : Dean Rizqullah Risdaryanto