UNIMALNEWS | Kuala Lumpur - The Faculty of Law of Universitas Malikussaleh (Unimal) conducted an official visit to the Faculty of Law of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) from October 22 to October 27, 2023. This visit aims to strengthen academic relations between the two universities and to explore the potential for international collaboration in the field of law. 

According to a press release received by Unimalnews on October 30, 2023, Dr. Faisal, M.Hum, the Dean of Unimal's Faculty of Law, stated that the Unimal delegation for this visit comprised key members, including the Dean, Dr. Faisal; the Deputy Dean for Academic Affairs, Dr. Malahayati, S.H., LL.M., and the Deputy Dean for General Affairs and Finance, Dr. Marlia Sastro, S.H., M.Hum. They were warmly welcomed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jady Zaidi Hassim, the Dean of UKM's Faculty of Law, Prof. Zinatul Ashikin, the former Dean of UKM's Law Faculty, and also by representative from the Industry & Community Network,  Dr. Nadhilah A. Kadir. 

During this visit, delegations from the Unimal's Faculty of Law  and the Faculty of Law of UKM signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) which marked the commitment of the two institutions to increase academic collaboration in various fields of legal science. This collaborative effort aims to align with Key Performance Indicators (IKU) and meet international accreditation standards.The collaboration between Faculty of Law of Unimal and UKM is not entirely new; rather, it represents an extension of a prior Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that had lapsed. Consequently, the MoU extension and the LoI signing represent a fresh phase in the advancement of the collaborative program between these two institutions. 

The series of activities during this visit included visits to various courts in Malaysia to understand the country's judicial system, visits to international law firms to gain practical insight into the legal profession, as well as sit-in sessions in class with students from diverse national backgrounds. This is a valuable opportunity for the academic community from both universities to exchange knowledge and experience in legal studies.

Faisal stated, "this visit is a very important step in developing strong collaboration between Unimal and UKM. We really hope that this collaboration will bring great benefits to both institutions in improving the quality of legal education."

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jady Zaidi Hassim, the Dean of the UKM Law Faculty, expressed his warm welcome to this visit, stating, "We are delighted to receive the delegation from Unimal's Law Faculty. This represents a significant stride in deepening our comprehension of legal and justice systems in two distinct nations. We anticipate that this collaboration will stimulate innovation and advancements within the legal domain."

This visit has received strong support from both parties, fostering a platform for the valuable exchange of legal knowledge. Early next year (2024), there are plans to establish a range of collaborative initiatives between Unimal's Faculty of Law and FUU UKM. These initiatives will encompass joint research projects, student exchanges, information sharing, cultural exchanges, and various other programs tailored to the specific requirements of both institutions. Hopefully this collaboration will continue to develop and produce great benefits for both universities and the broader academic community. [tkf]