Academic Visibility and Legal Research Collaboration: A Case Study on LinkedIn Use in UNNES Law Faculty

Abstract

This study examines the role of LinkedIn in enhancing academic visibility and fostering legal research collaboration among faculty members at the Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) Law Faculty. In the digital age, social media platforms have emerged as significant tools for professional networking, knowledge dissemination, and collaborative research. LinkedIn, as a professional-oriented platform, offers opportunities for academics to showcase their scholarly achievements, connect with peers, and engage in research partnerships both nationally and internationally. Using a qualitative case study approach, this research involved in-depth interviews with ten UNNES Law Faculty lecturers actively using LinkedIn, alongside an analysis of their LinkedIn profiles and professional activities. The findings reveal that LinkedIn significantly contributes to increasing individual academic visibility, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, and facilitating access to international research networks. However, challenges such as limited platform engagement, varying digital literacy, and privacy concerns were also identified. The study highlights strategies to optimize LinkedIn use for academic purposes, including profile optimization, active content sharing, and strategic networking. This research contributes to a better understanding of how professional social media platforms can support scholarly communication and collaboration in the legal field. The implications of this study suggest that higher education institutions should encourage and provide training for faculty to effectively leverage LinkedIn for academic networking and collaborative research initiatives.