Month: February 2024

The Master Program of Geomatics Engineering of UGM collaborated with the Department of Earth and Environmental Science, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Jepang in conducting a short workshop. Seven students and two professors from Nagoya University came to Jogja for a ten-day program, one of which was a joint public lecture.

I was asked to deliver a lecture for the program where around 20 students from Japan and Indonesia attended. My lecture was on Border in a Borderless World, talking particularly about issues on international maritime boundaries. Being a public lecture, the program was open for public and students from different faculties/schools came to attend. It was a good challenge for to deliver the lecture in a language that is accessible to those with different background. I personally enjoyed it.

The lecture went well with some good questions from the audience. Prof. Ito from Nagoya University also participated actively by discussing some part of my lecture. For me personally, the lecture was a good test, how effective I could be in delivering lecture for audiences with various background. In general, I was happy!

It felt so great to be back at the Office of International Affairs (OIA). It has been almost a year after I left the office, transitioning my position from the head of the office to the head of Master Program of Geomatics Engineering. Now that OIA invited me to speak to students from Ritsumeikan University, Japan, I somehow felt nostalgic. Academic Internationalization has been in my blood, I guess.

The topic was unusual. I was tasked to talk about Indonesia, Bali, and Hindu. The students need to understand Indonesia and its diverse culture better so I had to honor to speak to them. It was a one-hour session but it seemed to me that we used it effectively. Students’ enthusiasm helped me gain great energy in delivering my lecture.  They also had some critical questions so that we had good conversation after the presentation.

A delegation consisting of people from the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment , Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, and Geospatial Information Agency visite the Department of Geodetic Engineering on 12 February 2024. The purpose of their visit was to discuss the Draft of the Government Regulation on Internal Waters. I was specifically asked to be only resource person at the discussion.

There has been an initiative to establish a Government Regulation regarding International Waters in Indonesia. The draft is currently being discussed by all stakeholders in order to improve its quality. During their visit to UGM, we had specific and engaging discussion on a number of issues such as the definition of internal waters, the delineation of internal waters within archipelagic state, the impact of sea level rise to the shape of the coastlines.

I did not touch to much on the legal provisions but I took my time to explain key issues using illustration so it was, I hope, easier for people to understand.

 

The Indonesian Ocean Justice Initiative (IOJI) extended an invitation to me to take part in a discussion on  Presidential Candidate’s Vision on Maritime Affairs. It was such an honor. I flew to Jakarta on 6 February 2024 to join the discussion forum at the Katadata Building. The event was a collaboration between IOJI and Katadata.

The team of each presidential candidate presented their vision and plan on maritime affairs and two experts were asked to respond and give comments. Serving as the experts are Mas Arie from UI and I. It was great to be there. I also admire how IOJI managed to present its study on maritime issues and the law of the sea in Indonesia with public domain data. Such a comprehensive report, I think.

The event was recorded and here is part of it: