SURAKARTA – Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) terus memperkuat komitmennya dalam mewujudkan perguruan tinggi bereputasi internasional melalui peningkatan kolaborasi akademik global, pengembangan riset bereputasi, dan diplomasi akademik. Komitmen tersebut diwujudkan melalui kiprah Dr. Fatma Ulfatun Najicha, S.H., M.H., dosen Fakultas Hukum UNS, yang berhasil menyelesaikan Sabbatical Research Programme di Utrecht University, Belanda, sekaligus mewakili Indonesia dalam European Youth Summit (EYS) 2026 di Jenewa, Swiss.
Program sabbatical tersebut dilaksanakan dalam skema Sabbatical Leave Program – Indonesian University Endowment Fund Program (IUEFP) 2025/2026: Enhancing Quality Education for International University Recognition (EQUITY) selama periode April–Juli 2026. Selama berada di Utrecht University, Dr. Fatma melaksanakan penelitian berjudul “Comparison of Green Legislation Implementation Based on Ecological Justice in Indonesia and the Netherlands”, yang mengkaji implementasi legislasi hijau melalui perspektif keadilan ekologis dengan membandingkan sistem hukum Indonesia dan Belanda.
Penelitian tersebut memberikan kontribusi terhadap pencapaian Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), khususnya SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, melalui pengembangan konsep hukum yang mendukung penguatan legislasi lingkungan, tata kelola kelembagaan, dan kebijakan publik berbasis keadilan ekologis sebagai fondasi pembangunan berkelanjutan.
Selama menjalankan program, Dr. Fatma berada di bawah supervisi Dr. Diana Odier-Contreras Garduño dan Dr. Julie Fraser dari Department of Law, Economics and Governance, Utrecht University School of Law. Berdasarkan evaluasi akademik yang dilakukan oleh kedua supervisor, seluruh target penelitian, kegiatan akademik, dan luaran yang direncanakan berhasil diselesaikan sesuai dengan rencana kerja. Kegiatan tersebut meliputi supervisi penelitian, diskusi ilmiah, seminar akademik, kajian hukum komparatif, pengembangan literatur, serta kolaborasi dengan sivitas akademika Utrecht University.
Selain meningkatkan kapasitas akademik peneliti, program ini juga memperkuat hubungan kelembagaan antara Universitas Sebelas Maret dan Utrecht University. Kolaborasi tersebut membuka peluang pengembangan penelitian bersama (joint research), publikasi ilmiah internasional (joint publication), co-supervision mahasiswa pascasarjana, mobilitas dosen dan peneliti, pengembangan kurikulum, hingga pengajuan hibah penelitian internasional pada bidang hukum lingkungan, hak asasi manusia, tata kelola pemerintahan, dan pembangunan berkelanjutan.
Di tengah pelaksanaan Program Sabbatical, Dr. Fatma juga memperoleh kepercayaan untuk mewakili Indonesia dalam European Youth Summit (EYS) 2026 yang berlangsung di Jenewa, Swiss, pada 5–8 Juni 2026. Keikutsertaan tersebut diperoleh melalui proses seleksi internasional yang kompetitif dan mempertemukan 210 delegasi terpilih dari berbagai negara yang berasal dari kalangan akademisi, pembuat kebijakan, diplomat, peneliti, profesional, inovator, dan pemimpin muda.
Selama empat hari penyelenggaraan, para delegasi mengikuti berbagai sesi strategis yang membahas isu-isu global, antara lain Public Policy (Kebijakan Publik), Diplomacy (Diplomasi), Global Governance (Tata Kelola Global), serta Negotiation Leadership for Global Impact, yang menitikberatkan pada penguatan kepemimpinan, diplomasi internasional, dan penyusunan solusi kolaboratif dalam menghadapi tantangan global.
Dalam forum tersebut, Dr. Fatma memperkenalkan konsep Ecological Justice (Keadilan Ekologis) yang dikembangkan selama penelitian di Utrecht University sebagai pendekatan dalam memperkuat legislasi lingkungan dan tata kelola pembangunan berkelanjutan. Gagasan tersebut memperoleh respons positif dan menjadi bagian dari diskusi mengenai penguatan kebijakan lingkungan, perubahan iklim, serta pengembangan institusi yang berkeadilan dan berkelanjutan.
Menurut Dr. Fatma, pengalaman mengikuti program sabbatical dan forum internasional tersebut menunjukkan bahwa penelitian tidak berhenti pada publikasi ilmiah, tetapi juga harus memberikan kontribusi terhadap penyusunan kebijakan publik dan penyelesaian persoalan global.
“Program Sabbatical di Utrecht University memberikan kesempatan untuk mengembangkan penelitian dalam lingkungan akademik internasional yang sangat kondusif, sekaligus memperluas jejaring kolaborasi global. Sementara itu, European Youth Summit menjadi ruang strategis untuk mendiseminasikan hasil penelitian serta memperkenalkan perspektif Ecological Justice kepada komunitas internasional sebagai bagian dari kontribusi akademisi Indonesia terhadap pembangunan hukum lingkungan yang lebih berkeadilan dan berkelanjutan,” ujar Dr. Fatma.
Keikutsertaan dalam kedua kegiatan internasional tersebut menunjukkan bahwa dosen Universitas Sebelas Maret tidak hanya berperan sebagai peneliti, tetapi juga sebagai duta akademik Indonesia yang membawa hasil riset dan gagasan ilmiah ke forum internasional. Sinergi antara penelitian di Utrecht University dan partisipasi dalam European Youth Summit menjadi implementasi nyata diplomasi akademik (academic diplomacy) sekaligus memperkuat posisi UNS dalam jejaring akademik global.
Bagi Universitas Sebelas Maret, capaian ini memiliki nilai strategis dalam mendukung agenda internasionalisasi universitas, meningkatkan reputasi akademik di tingkat global, memperluas kemitraan dengan perguruan tinggi bereputasi dunia, serta mendorong peningkatan publikasi ilmiah dan riset kolaboratif internasional. Kegiatan ini juga memberikan kontribusi terhadap pencapaian Indikator Kinerja Utama (IKU) 3, yaitu dosen berkegiatan di luar kampus, melalui pelaksanaan penelitian internasional, kolaborasi akademik lintas negara, pengembangan jejaring global, serta keterlibatan aktif dalam forum ilmiah internasional.
Keberhasilan Program Sabbatical Research ini diharapkan menjadi fondasi bagi pengembangan kerja sama yang lebih luas antara Universitas Sebelas Maret dan Utrecht University, termasuk penguatan joint research, joint publication, student and staff mobility, co-supervision, serta kolaborasi dalam berbagai program internasional lainnya. Melalui langkah ini, UNS semakin mempertegas komitmennya sebagai perguruan tinggi yang menghasilkan riset bereputasi internasional, memperluas kolaborasi global, dan memberikan kontribusi nyata terhadap penyelesaian berbagai tantangan global melalui ilmu pengetahuan, inovasi, dan kerja sama akademik yang berkelanjutan.
UNS Faculty of Law Lecturer Strengthens International Collaboration through Sabbatical Research at Utrecht University and Represents Indonesia at the European Youth Summit 2026
SURAKARTA, Indonesia – Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) continues to strengthen its commitment to becoming a globally engaged university by expanding international academic collaboration, advancing high-impact research, and promoting academic diplomacy. This commitment is reflected in the achievements of Dr. Fatma Ulfatun Najicha, S.H., M.H., a Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, who successfully completed a Sabbatical Research Programme at Utrecht University, the Netherlands, while also representing Indonesia at the European Youth Summit (EYS) 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Sabbatical Programme was undertaken under the Sabbatical Leave Program – Indonesian University Endowment Fund Program (IUEFP) 2025/2026: Enhancing Quality Education for International University Recognition (EQUITY) from April to July 2026. During her research stay at Utrecht University, Dr. Fatma conducted a research project entitled “Comparison of Green Legislation Implementation Based on Ecological Justice in Indonesia and the Netherlands.” The project examines the implementation of green legislation through the lens of ecological justice by comparing the legal systems of Indonesia and the Netherlands.
The research contributes to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, by developing legal approaches that strengthen environmental legislation, institutional governance, and public policy based on the principles of ecological justice as a foundation for sustainable development.
Throughout the programme, Dr. Fatma conducted her research under the academic supervision of Dr. Diana Odier-Contreras Garduño and Dr. Julie Fraser from the Department of Law, Economics and Governance, Utrecht University School of Law. Based on the supervisors’ academic evaluation, all research objectives, planned academic activities, and programme outputs were successfully completed in accordance with the approved work plan. The programme included research supervision meetings, scholarly discussions, comparative legal analysis, academic seminars, literature development, and collaborative engagement with members of Utrecht University’s academic community.
Beyond strengthening individual research capacity, the programme also reinforced the institutional partnership between Universitas Sebelas Maret and Utrecht University. The collaboration has created opportunities for future joint research, international scientific publications, co-supervision of postgraduate students, faculty and researcher mobility, curriculum development, and collaborative applications for international research funding in the fields of environmental law, human rights, public governance, and sustainable development.
During the Sabbatical Programme, Dr. Fatma was also selected to represent Indonesia at the European Youth Summit (EYS) 2026, held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 5–8 June 2026. Her participation followed a highly competitive international selection process involving 210 selected delegates from around the world, including academics, policymakers, diplomats, researchers, professionals, innovators, and emerging leaders.
Over the course of four days, delegates participated in a series of strategic sessions covering Public Policy, Diplomacy, Global Governance, and Negotiation Leadership for Global Impact. These discussions focused on strengthening leadership capacity, international diplomacy, and collaborative approaches to addressing complex global challenges.
During the summit, Dr. Fatma introduced the concept of Ecological Justice, developed through her research at Utrecht University, as a framework for strengthening environmental legislation and promoting sustainable governance. Her research perspective received positive responses and contributed to discussions on environmental policy, climate change, institutional resilience, and sustainable development.
Reflecting on her experience, Dr. Fatma emphasised that both the Sabbatical Programme and the international forum demonstrated how research should extend beyond academic publications to contribute directly to policymaking and solutions for global challenges.
“The Sabbatical Programme at Utrecht University provided an exceptional academic environment for developing my research while expanding international collaborative networks. At the same time, the European Youth Summit offered a strategic platform to disseminate the research findings and introduce the concept of Ecological Justice to the international community as Indonesia’s contribution to the development of more equitable and sustainable environmental governance,” she said.
Dr. Fatma’s participation in both international initiatives demonstrates that academics serve not only as researchers but also as ambassadors of knowledge who bring research-based ideas to global scientific and policy forums. The synergy between the research undertaken at Utrecht University and participation in the European Youth Summit represents a tangible example of academic diplomacy, while strengthening Universitas Sebelas Maret’s presence within the global academic community.
For Universitas Sebelas Maret, these achievements represent an important milestone in advancing the University’s internationalisation strategy, enhancing its global academic reputation, expanding partnerships with world-leading universities, and increasing opportunities for international collaborative research and publications. The programme also contributes to the achievement of Indonesia’s Key Performance Indicator (IKU) 3, which encourages lecturers to undertake professional activities beyond campus through international research, cross-border academic collaboration, global networking, and active participation in international scholarly forums.
The successful completion of the Sabbatical Research Programme is expected to serve as a foundation for expanding long-term cooperation between Universitas Sebelas Maret and Utrecht University, including joint research, joint publications, student and staff mobility, co-supervision, and broader international academic initiatives. Through these efforts, Universitas Sebelas Maret continues to strengthen its position as a globally engaged university committed to producing internationally recognised research, expanding strategic international partnerships, and contributing meaningful solutions to global challenges through science, innovation, and sustainable academic collaboration.