Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) continues to demonstrate its strategic role as a center of academic expertise contributing to evidence-based policymaking and national legal reform. Through its scholars and research-based initiatives, the university actively participates in multi-stakeholder discussions and provides professional recommendations to government institutions at the national, regional, and local levels.
A key example of this contribution is the involvement of Prof. Dr. Benny Riyanto, S.H., M.Hum., C.N., Professor of Criminal Law at the UNNES Faculty of Law, in a series of public dialogues on the Draft Criminal Code (RKUHP) organized by the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) and the Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Kominfo).
During the Public Participation Forum on the RKUHP held in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Prof. Benny emphasized the importance of reforming Indonesia’s outdated colonial-era Criminal Code to align with modern norms, restorative justice, and national values.
“The new Criminal Code must be futuristic, adaptive to technological developments, and responsive to the evolving needs of our legal society,” said Prof. Benny in his presentation.
UNNES further strengthened this engagement through the Legal and Human Rights Digital Literacy Forum, organized in collaboration with Kominfo, focusing on “Dissemination of the Draft Criminal Code and Legal Awareness in the Digital Society.” The forum served as a constructive platform for dialogue among academics, policymakers, and civil society to increase legal literacy and promote transparency in national lawmaking processes.
At the regional level, UNNES’s expertise also extends beyond legal reform. Dr. Budiyanto, M.Pd., Chair of the UNNES Alumni Association (IKA UNNES), currently serves as Chairman of the Semarang City Education Council, reflecting public trust in UNNES’s academic leadership and its contribution to improving regional education governance. Under his direction, the Council has formulated recommendations and policy inputs for the city government to enhance educational quality and equity.
In addition, UNNES collaborates with multiple regional and national institutions, including the Central Java Provincial Government, the Kendal Regency Government, and the Ministry of Home Affairs, to co-develop research-based public policy initiatives on sustainable governance, environmental resilience, and community empowerment.
These continuous engagements affirm UNNES’s vision as a “University for a Sustainable Society” an institution that bridges science, policy, and community empowerment. Through academic contributions to government policymaking, UNNES upholds the essence of Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) by fostering inclusive, accountable, and transparent decision-making processes at all levels of governance.
UNNES Legal Expert Contributes to National Criminal Code Reform and Public Policy Dialogue
On January 18, 2023, Prof. Dr. Benny Riyanto, S.H., M.Hum., C.N., Professor of Law at Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), contributed his expertise to a public forum on Indonesia’s new Criminal Code (KUHP) in Pontianak, West Kalimantan. Organized by Universitas Tanjungpura in collaboration with the Indonesian Society of Criminal Law and Criminology (MAHUPIKI), the forum discussed national criminal law reform. Prof. Benny provided expert insights into the Code’s modernized legal provisions and emphasized the importance of public dissemination to support its effective implementation.
His participation highlights UNNES’s contribution to national legal policy discussions through academic expertise and legal education. By explaining regulatory changes, addressing potential legal misunderstandings, and encouraging public understanding, Prof. Benny helped facilitate informed dialogue among legal scholars, practitioners, and stakeholders. This engagement demonstrates how UNNES academics contribute specialized knowledge to discussions surrounding national legal reform and policy implementation.
UNNES Collaborates with the Ministry of Communication and Informatics to Provide Expert Insights on National Criminal Law Reform
On November 3, 2022, Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), through its Faculty of Law, collaborated with Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Kominfo) to organize the Digital Legal and Human Rights Literacy Forum (Firtual) on the Draft Criminal Code (RUU KUHP). The forum brought together government representatives, legal scholars, and academics to discuss the modernization of Indonesia’s criminal justice system. UNNES legal expert Prof. Dr. R. Benny Riyanto, S.H., M.Hum., C.N., provided expert insights into the historical development and reform of the Criminal Code, while Dr. Ali Masyhar, S.H., M.H., examined 14 crucial issues within the proposed legislation. Their contributions offered specialized legal perspectives to support informed discussions on national criminal law reform.
The collaboration provided a platform for academic experts to contribute legal knowledge to government-led policy discussions and public consultation processes. Through their presentations, UNNES scholars helped clarify key legislative provisions, identify important legal considerations, and facilitate dialogue between policymakers, academics, and the wider public. The forum also supported the government’s efforts to gather public input on the proposed Criminal Code and improve understanding of its implications. This initiative demonstrates UNNES’s role in providing specialized academic expertise to national government institutions, contributing to more informed, participatory, and evidence-based legal policymaking.
UNNES Education Expert Contributes Policy Recommendations to Semarang City Education Council
Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) contributed its academic expertise to regional education policymaking through the participation of Prof. Dr. DYP Sugiharto, M.Pd., Kons., in the Semarang City Education Council (DPKS) Working Meeting held on June 4–5, 2021. As a UNNES professor, he was invited to provide expert insights on strategies to improve educational quality and standards in Semarang. The meeting brought together education experts, government officials, school representatives, and professional education organizations to evaluate previous programs and formulate the council’s annual work plan. Academic recommendations and stakeholder inputs gathered during the discussions were intended to inform policy recommendations submitted to the Mayor of Semarang. This engagement demonstrates UNNES’s contribution to local government policymaking through specialized academic advice, supporting evidence-informed educational planning and improvements in regional education governance.
UNNES Provides Academic Expertise to Central Java Provincial Government for Sustainable Regional Development
On June 23, 2025, Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) strengthened its collaboration with the Central Java Provincial Government through a strategic meeting focused on sustainable regional development, environmental protection, poverty reduction, and public services. UNNES Rector Prof. Dr. S. Martono, M.Si., highlighted the university’s contributions through educational programs, applied research, and community engagement. During the meeting, Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi invited UNNES academics to contribute their expertise to the Giant Sea Wall Semarang project, particularly in coastal environmental management, mangrove conservation, and climate change adaptation. The discussion emphasized the importance of integrating scientific knowledge and university-based research into regional development strategies.
The collaboration also explored opportunities for UNNES to provide specialized academic advice and technical support to provincial government programs, including poverty alleviation, healthcare services, and legal assistance. The Faculty of Medicine expressed its readiness to support the Jateng Speling mobile healthcare initiative through research and community service, while the Faculty of Law offered legal assistance for provincial government programs. These discussions demonstrate UNNES’s role as an academic partner in regional policymaking, contributing expertise across environmental, social, healthcare, and legal sectors. By connecting academic knowledge with government development priorities, UNNES supports more informed, collaborative, and sustainable public policy planning in Central Java.