The Center for Law and Development (CLD) at the College of Law (LAWC), Qatar University (QU) has officially launched the Jean Monnet Module in (European Union) EU Law on March 9.
The event was moderated by Dr. Hamad Hamed A. M. Alhababi, Assistant Professor of Public Law at the College of Law of Qatar University.
The event featured several distinguished speakers including Dr. Cristian Tudor, Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to the State of Kuwait and the State of Qatar; Dr. Hassan Rashid Al-Derham, President of Qatar University and Dr. Jon Truby, Director of the Centre for Law and Development (CLD) at the College of Law of Qatar University.
The distinguished speakers highlighted the importance of this course as a first course in EU Law in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). This course is another stepping-stone in the EU-Qatar relations, this time from an education perspective following the recent agreements signed between the EU and Qatar in various fields.
This new cooperation in the field of education between QU and the EU is very significant. The Center for Law and Development at the College of Law of Qatar University has been awarded the EU Jean Monnet Module funding to deliver courses on EU Law to students and professionals in the State of Qatar. The “Doha Courses on European Union Law” will be the first Jean Monnet Module in Qatar and the GCC, and the courses will be delivered for 3 years.
In a funding competition, the CLD won a competitive grant and was one of 360 awarded applications out of the 1447 eligible applications for funding in 2020. The Module aims to create interest in the European Union and to constitute the basis for future poles of European knowledge and research in the State of Qatar.
The Module seeks to foster the publication and dissemination of academic research in EU Law, and to create interest in the EU amongst students in Qatar. The Module will allow the CLD to deliver tailor-made courses on specific EU Law topics relevant for graduates in their professional life.
This will help Qatar-based lawyers develop skills and knowledge in EU Law so that local businesses and organizations are better equipped to trade with EU companies and deal with EU institutions. The Module will deliver 40 teaching hours per academic year in EU Law, requiring the academic input of several professors and experts. The Module components focus firstly on the introduction to the European Union’s legal history and institutions, and secondly on legal areas where the European Union plays a leading role. The Module aims to promote research skills and knowledge in the field of international organizations and integration using the European Union as a model, environmental protection, and human rights, which are key pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030. Finally, the Monnet Module will promote the role of Qatar University as a source of expertise to serve the nation’s needs; strengthening local, regional, and international partnerships in strategic areas and be a catalyst development of Qatar.
In his intervention, Dr. Cristian Tudor said: “The EU and the State of Qatar are cooperating to raise awareness about the existing opportunities for academic, scientific and cultural cooperation between us both. We are happy to see that, as in other fields, Qatar has shown regional leadership. The experience through this module is a solid basis, upon which the Qatari academic community can build upon not only to get acquainted with the EU legal order but also to foster dialogue between policy makers and academics in universities in the EU and partner countries.”
“I believe that Qatar University’s experience with the Jean Monnet Module would be highly interesting for the entire region. Therefore, I am sure this will not be the last time we work together”, he added.
Dr. Hassan Rashid Al-Derham, President of Qatar University mentioned that “Once again, Qatar University highlights its importance as the main educational institute of the country through this grant”.
Dr. Jon Truby, Director of CLD emphasized the “significance of the center having the grant for the development of research related to EU Law and EU-Qatar relations.”