Doha: The Center for Law and Development (CLD) at the College of Law (LAWC), Qatar University (QU), has been awarded the European Union (EU) Jean Monnet Module funding to deliver courses on EU law to students and professionals in 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 annually for three years. In a funding competition, the CLD won a competitive grant and was one of 360 awarded applications out of the 1447 eligible funding applications in 2020.
The Module aims to create interest in the European Union and constitute the basis for future European knowledge and research poles in Qatar. The Module will allow the CLD to deliver tailor-made courses on specific European Union law issues relevant to graduates’ professional lives.
The Module will promote research and teaching experience among young researchers, scholars, and practitioners in the EU issues. Further, it seeks to foster the publication and dissemination of academic research in EU law and create interest in the EU amongst Qatar students. This will help Qatar-based lawyers develop skills and knowledge in EU law to equip local businesses and organizations better to trade with EU businesses and deal with EU institutions.
Firstly, the Module components focus on introducing the European Union’s legal history and institutions, and secondly, on legal areas where the European Union plays a leading role. It aims to promote international organisations’ knowledge and integration using the European Union as a model, environmental protection, and human rights, critical pillars of QNV2030. The focus on protecting the environment and human rights represents an essential contribution towards promoting environmental and human rights issues in the Qatari society. Increasing education quality on the above issues will have essential spill-overs on Qatari education and community. Finally, there will be a Research Seminar on Conducting Research on European Union Law.
The Jean Monnet Module and its components will contribute to the strategic objectives of promoting 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. It also seeks to enhance Qatar’s innovation in collaboration with Qatar’s government, industry, and funding organizations. The project will result in improved competencies in law programs.
QU College of Law Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Dr. Khalid Al Shamari, commented: “This will allow for better job placement of graduates and benefits for the national workforce and institutions. It will have a very positive impact on Qatari companies and institutions, thus contributing to the knowledge-based economy and the diversification of growth.”
Several organizations in Qatar have departments dealing with European affairs. Teaching personnel in the Module activities will improve capacities to develop and teach modern European Union law courses that exhibit state-of-the-art European standards.
