Course period
July 25th – July 29th 2016
ECTS
3
Max. participants
8-10 participants
Course leader
Prof. dr. Corien Prins & Prof. dr. Willem van Genugten
Target group
Advanced graduate, BA/MA from law
Schedule
Weekdays:
09:45-12:30 (theory)
13:30-15:30 (theory & group work on assignments)
15:30-17:00 (discussion of assignments)
Course Fee and costs
No course fee is asked. Participants will partly have to pay their own
travel costs.
Course aims:
This summer school is part of the Tilburg-Africa: Towards Knowledge Societies project and consists of
four modules taught by Tilburg Law School in collaboration with the Midlands State University in
Zimbabwe and North West University, Potchefstroom (South Africa). The modules taught are 1. Human
Rights & Business, 2. Sustainable Energy, 3. Water Management Law and 4. Mining and Mineral law.
The summer school is held in Zimbabwe, at the campus of Midlands State University in Gweru. Students
from both Midlands and Tilburg participate in this summer school. The modules are taught by lecturers
from Tilburg Law School, North West University, Potschefstroom (South Africa) and Midlands State
University (Zimbabwe).
The “Tilburg-Africa: Towards Knowledge Societies” project was successfully launched in 2015 based on
the conviction that the exchange of education and the setting in which education is provided, facilitates
students of the law schools of Midlands and Tilburg in learning about and exchanging knowledge on the
role that law plays in addressing global and regional challenges such as water management, human
rights and sustainability. Principle coordinator of the first educational program in August 2015 is Max
van Dam, student at Tilburg Law School.
The summer school allows students from Tilburg Law School and Midlands Law School to enrich their
knowledge, skills and abilities in close cooperation and thus foster mutual experience and understanding
of the role of law and regulation in an international and regional (African) setting. In order to stay in
touch and thus further enrich their knowledge in the period after the summer school, a dynamic online
platform is part of the project. This platform allows students to stay in touch with each other, both in
the present as in the future. This way we will all be part of an ongoing global citizen community.
The objectives of this course are to familiarize participants with:
the regulatory regimes on the domains covered, the legal realities in these domains based on case law
and case studies, the implications of the regulatory regime for relevant actors and stakeholders in
society in general and within the domains (mining, water management, etc.) in particular;
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the various legal theories and perspectives on the issues relevant for the discussed domains;
the international regulatory context and interaction with regional dimensions and specifics.
Course Information
The module aims to teach participants academic knowledge and insight into the role of law and
regulation in key societal challenges (human rights & business; climate change & energy; water
management and mining law in Southern Africa). The learning process will challenge participants into
theory and practical interventions, given the differences between the African and EU context and case
study.
Participants who wish to obtain 3 ECTS will have to write a short paper after the Summer School.
The respective modules cover among others the underneath issues:
The module on Business and Human Rights Law will familiarize students with the impact of business on
human rights, development of the business and human rights nexus, example cases (among which the
specific case of mining for smartphones), the UN Guiding Principles and other initiatives (OECD, EU
initiatives, ILO, national action plans, examples of codes of conducts, etc.), the access to remedies as the
third pillar of the Ruggie (meaning and scope of remedy, use of judicial and non-judicial means for
solving conflicts between companies and victims of human rights violations), human rights and supply
chain management (example cases, e.g. blood diamond), extraterritorial human rights protection
(positive and negative aspects of extending legal human rights protection beyond state).
In the module on international and regional co-operation on Sustainable Energy Law production and
climate change the topics dealt with are: why is international and regional co-operation on renewable
energy production important in the context of climate change (including the European Energy Charter,
the International Energy Charter, the European Union's goals for an Energy Union and implications for
Africa and for Zimbabwe)?; Legally binding targets for renewable energy production – can this work?;
Energy poverty and global access to energy - does the law have a role to play?; enforcing rights and
settling disputes - the international framework.
The module on Mining and Mineral Rights Law and their exercise will cover issues such as: in which way
are mineral rights acquired (common and civil law), The nature and content of mineral and related
rights, the utilization of the rights, health and safety Requirements, the transfer and termination of the
rights and rehabilitation.
The module on Water Management Law will address the following issues: introduction to international
water law (historic background, integrated water management), international Law on Transboundary
watercourses: principles and customary international law (equitable and reasonable utilization and no
harm, sustainable development, conflicts (case studies), international agreements (Helsinki Convention,
UN convention), climate change and impacts on water and water law. Adaptation to climate change in
international basins in Africa.
In the classes all lecturers will focus not only on the law in the books, but especially also on the law in
action. It can be easily observed that even more than in other nations, in Zimbabwe there is a huge
difference between the two, and that law enforcement and the rule of law are THE goals to be achieved.
Course Materials
All course materials will be provided by the university at the beginning of the course. The costs are
included in the fee. Participants have free access to Tilburg University’s library during the summer
school.
Course Specifics
As both the sessions and the course materials will be in English, applicants should have proficiency in the
English language. Applicants will be issued a certification of successful completion of the summer school
provided that they have attended at least 80% of all sessions. Those wishing to obtain 3 ECTS will have
to submit a paper after the Summer School.
Application Procedure
Maximum of 8-10 participants. Only students registered at Tilburg Law School can participate in the
summer school.
Selection based on:
1) background: advanced graduate, BA/MA.
2) chronological order of receipt
Documents for application procedure:
1) CV
2) Diploma and course list of highest relevant education
Application by e-mail to maxvandam@live.com
Before 1 April 2016
Notification of approval: within two weeks after application OR before 7 April if submitted on deadline
Registration
All (admitted) participants should register via the Tilburg University Summer School registration page.
Registration is possible as of the beginning of February. Registration at Tilburg University Summer
School should be completed by 31 May 2016.
Accommodation
Tilburg University Summer School will try to facilitate the booking of a room on campus. If you wish to
make use of this facility, you can indicate this during your registration.
See also the video impression of the August 2015 program at www.youtube....:
For more information on the specifics of the program, please send an e-mail to the “TilburgAfrica: Towards Knowledge Societies” project leader, Max van Dam: maxvandam@live.com. For
general information on the summer school, please send an e-mail to
summerschool@tilburguniversity.edu