Rakyat Aceh | Lhokseumawe – Head of the Doctoral Law Program (DIH) at the Faculty of Law, Syiah Kuala University (USK), Prof. Dr. Teuku Muttaqin Mansur, M.H., was invited to give a public lecture at the Inaugural Lecture for the Doctoral and Master’s Programs at the Faculty of Law, Malikussaleh University (Unimal), Lhokseumawe, Saturday (9/26/2026). The inaugural lecture took place in the Balee Qanun Hall, Faculty of Law Unimal, Bukit Indah Campus, Lhokseumawe.
The inaugural lecture was officially opened by the Dean of the Faculty of Law at Unimal, Prof. Dr. Faisal, S.Ag., S.H., M.Hum. In his remarks, he emphasized the importance of academic commitment alongside social sensitivity toward local values of justice.
“Unimal’s Doctoral Program in Law is designed to produce legal scholars who are not only academically excellent, but also sensitive to issues of justice rooted in Acehnese local wisdom.”
— Prof. Dr. Faisal, S.Ag., S.H., M.Hum., Dean of the Faculty of Law, Unimal.
Prof. Faisal added that the living local wisdom values in Aceh hold immense potential to be explored and transformed into legal ideas of national and international significance.
Meanwhile, the Coordinator of the Doctoral Program at Unimal’s Faculty of Law, Prof. Dr. Yulia, S.H., M.H., reminded attendees that doctoral research should not remain a mere academic display, but must deliver a direct impact on the public.
“A doctoral dissertation should not just sit on a library shelf.
Dissertation research must address real-world issues within the community, whether at the Gampong, Regency, Provincial, National, or global forum level.”
— Prof. Dr. Yulia, S.H., M.H., Coordinator of the Doctoral Law Program at Unimal.
*Customary Law as a Dissertation Laboratory*
Attending as the keynote speaker, Prof. Dr. Teuku Muttaqin Mansur, M.H., who is also a Professor of Customary Law in the field of Customary Justice at USK, presented on the topic “Customary Law and National Legal Reform.”
In his presentation, Prof. Muttaqin highlighted the importance of scientific novelty so that the dissertations produced by doctoral students carry academic value on a global scale.
“Doctoral students must be able to discover novelty, rather than simply repeating existing theories. The richness of customary law in Aceh serves as a vast laboratory for world-class dissertations, which can even be presented in global forums.”
— Prof. Dr. Teuku Muttaqin Mansur, M.H., Head of the Doctoral Law Program, FH USK
He encouraged students not to hesitate in using living law practices within society as an in-depth research subject that is responsive to modern legal dynamics.
The event was also attended by the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs of FH Unimal, Prof. Dr. Malahayati, S.H., LL.M., the Head of the Department of Legal Studies, the Head of the Master’s Program in Law, Dr. Muhammad Nasir, S.H., LL.M., Professor of FH Unimal, Prof. Dr. Jamaluddin, S.H., M.Hum., as well as several FH Unimal lecturers.
In addition to academic staff, the event was attended by doctoral students from various strategic professional backgrounds, including judges, prosecutors, advocates, lecturers, members of parliament, and police officers.(rao)