Expanding Global Networks: The International Journey of Iman Prihandono
As the Dean of the Faculty of Law at Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) in Surabaya, Iman Prihandono has a strong desire to make the faculty go global and gain international exposure worldwide.
Presenting on the Global Stage
Iman enrolled at the University of Sydney for a Master of Laws (LLM) in 2006. During his time at the University of Sydney, Iman received an education that not only deepened his understanding of international law but also challenged his academic perspectives and approach to teaching. In 2009, after failing to secure an Australia Awards scholarship, Iman was awarded a Dikti scholarship to continue his PhD at Macquarie University. His research focused on the responsibility of multinational corporations in human rights violations, particularly in Indonesia’s resource sectors.
While doing his PhD, Iman had the opportunity to present his research in Cyprus and Singapore and also to attend an international training on business and human rights law in Bangkok, Thailand organised by the Diplomacy Training Program of the University of New South Wales.
“I thought my PhD would mainly involve writing my dissertation,... But I was given the opportunity to attend international conferences, present papers, and network. An experience to remember,” he said.
Growing UNAIR’s International Connections
On returning to Indonesia, Iman quickly became a recognised expert in the field of business and human rights law. His expertise led to invitations to speak at forums organised by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Law and Human Rights. He was also commissioned by the International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID) to draft a policy paper outlining how Indonesia could implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. In 2017, he was contacted by one of his former supervisors, Professor Simon Butt, a Professor of Indonesian Law and asked to represent Indonesia in an international seminar at Oxford University.
“Being invited to speak at such a prestigious seminar was a real honour, and it all came about through the connections I had made in Australia,” Iman shared.
In 2020, when Iman was appointed Dean one of his intentions was to enhance the faculty’s global presence. The Faculty has established multiple partnerships, including the University of Western Sydney (UWS) and Monash University. The partnership with Monash happened through the Monash University Legal Alliance (MULIA) a collaboration with seven law faculties. As an alumnus of both UNAIR and Monash Law Faculty, Indonesia’s Ambassador to Australia, Dr Siswo Pranomo, facilitated this.
Facilitating exchanges with Australia
The most recent MoU was with the University of Western Sydney in 2024. In September 2024, UNAIR accepted 30 undergraduate students for an exchange program from the University of Western Sydney (UWS) and Deakin University. The visit also covered intercultural studies, including site visits to several religious sites and exploring batik cultural heritage knowledge in Madura. This year, UWS will send three master's students to join lectures at UNAIR.
These collaborations stem from Iman’s networks, which he built during his study in Australia. At that time, Professor Jeremy Kingsley, the vice dean at UWS, was looking for a strategic partnership and an endorsement from Professor Simon Butt proved instrumental in setting this up.
"By building these international collaborations, we are giving our students opportunity. It’s about creating pathways for the next generation to engage with the global community," Iman concluded.
