Monash University enhances legal collaboration with Indonesia
On November 13, the Australian Embassy in Jakarta hosted the Australia Indonesia Legal Update Conference. This event was organised by Monash University and the University of Indonesia and hosted by these and six prominent Indonesian law schools.
The conference attracted over 100 distinguished legal experts, practitioners, business leaders, and policymakers from Indonesia to discuss the latest legal developments affecting both nations. Keynote speech was delivered by Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections, Yusril Ihza Mahendra.
Professor Andrew Choo from the Faculty of Law at Monash University addresses the Australia Indonesia Legal Update Conference.
The primary goal of the conference was to promote meaningful dialogue and cooperation between Australia and Indonesia. Sessions covered crucial topics such as criminal justice reform, trade and investment, and the transition to sustainable energy.
Gita Kamath, the Australian Chargé d’Affaires to Indonesia, emphasised the importance of the event.
“This important conference demonstrates the strong partnership between Indonesian and Australian educational institutions in the legal sector,” said Gita Kamath.
“This partnership is underpinned by strong and enduring institutional relationships, as well as the close ties between our people.”
Associate Professor Gerry Nagtzaam, Professor Andrew Choo and Professor Jean Allain from the Faculty of Law at Monash University at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia.
In 2023, Monash University formed partnerships with several leading Indonesian universities through the Monash University Law Indonesia Alliance (MULIA). In addition to being an acronym for the Monash University Law Indonesia Alliance, MULIA is a word in the Indonesian language that means ‘noble’, ‘glorious’ or ‘honourable’. These three words reflect the essence of the MULIA alliance.
“It was lovely that the Australian Embassy could host our MULIA event as a means of showcasing a number of current legal issues which are at play in each other’s country”, said Professor Jean Allain from the Faculty of Law at Monash University.
“The opportunity for Monash academics to meet with their counterparts in Indonesia has provided a forum for developing relationships which can better inform their research agendas and the bilateral relationship between ourselves and our northern neighbour”.
This Alliance has already produced various collaborative ventures, including more than one co-hosted conference, and been successful in joint-funding bids and producing co-publications. MULIA is reinforcing Monash University’s dedication to fostering international academic and professional relationships.
On the day following the Updates Conference, academics from the MULIA members met at the Faculty of Law, Universitas Indonesia, in workshops to further consider the themes and topics that had been considered at the Embassy.