NILAI – Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) strengthened its internationalisation agenda when two lecturers from the Faculty of Syariah and Law (FSU), Associate Professor Dr Mohd Hazmi Mohd Rusli and Dr Amalina Ahmad Tajudin, were invited to serve as Visiting Scholars in South Korea from 24 to 29 May 2026.
The academic visit involved scholarly activities at the YIJUN Institute of International Law and Dongguk University in Seoul. Through lectures, academic discussions and engagements with researchers, the programme aimed to expand cooperation in international law, joint research, scholarly publications and academic mobility.
The invitation also marked a significant milestone as Associate Professor Dr Mohd Hazmi and Dr Amalina were the first academics from Malaysia to be invited as Visiting Scholars by the YIJUN Institute of International Law.
Their participation reflects growing international recognition of USIM academics’ expertise in international law while creating opportunities for deeper collaboration between USIM and academic institutions in the Republic of Korea.
As part of the programme, Associate Professor Dr Mohd Hazmi delivered a special lecture entitled The Strategic Importance of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore: Legal Challenges and Future Prospects at the College of Law, Dongguk University.
The lecture examined the strategic importance of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore as one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes. It also addressed legal challenges involving freedom of navigation, maritime security and compliance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, commonly known as UNCLOS.
Academic staff and students from the College of Law attended the lecture and participated in a question-and-answer session on contemporary international law issues, particularly maritime governance and security in the Asia-Pacific region.
Dongguk University, established in 1906, is among the oldest private universities in the Republic of Korea. The university has developed a strong research profile in areas including law, medicine, engineering, social sciences and mass communication.
Its College of Law is actively involved in international academic cooperation and contributes to legal education and research through partnerships with universities and research institutions worldwide.
Meanwhile, the YIJUN Institute of International Law is a research institution dedicated to the development and advancement of international law. It publishes the Journal of East Asia and International Law, an international academic journal indexed in Scopus and the Web of Science.
The institute also publishes scholarly books and organises international conferences, academic lectures and forums involving scholars, judges, legal practitioners and policymakers. Its activities contribute to the development of international legal discourse, particularly within Asia.
During the visit, Associate Professor Dr Mohd Hazmi and Dr Amalina also held a series of academic discussions with YIJUN Institute of International Law President Professor Eric Yong-Joong Lee and the institute’s researchers.
The discussions focused on potential joint research projects, the publication of academic articles in the Journal of East Asia and International Law, scholarly book projects and efforts to broaden academic networks among USIM, the YIJUN Institute of International Law and Dongguk University.
These initiatives are expected to provide USIM researchers with wider opportunities to produce high-impact publications, exchange expertise and participate in international academic collaborations.
Associate Professor Dr Mohd Hazmi said the invitation represented not only an honour for the two academics but also recognition of USIM’s growing academic presence internationally.
“This programme creates opportunities for joint research, publications in reputable journals and academic books, as well as the exchange of expertise among scholars.
“We hope the relationship established with the YIJUN Institute of International Law and Dongguk University can be continued through academic initiatives that benefit all institutions involved while enhancing USIM’s international visibility,” he said.
The visit supports USIM’s commitment to advancing international academic engagement and strengthening the integration of Naqli and Aqli knowledge through research and scholarly discourse on contemporary legal issues.
It is also expected to serve as a platform for future cooperation in research, publication and academic mobility, while providing USIM academics and students with greater exposure to international developments in law, maritime governance and regional security.