Following months of collaborative efforts, the University of Luxembourg's (Uni.lu) Inter-University Cooperation project Laos-Luxembourg formally joined the "Rule of law, access to justice and good governance in Lao PDR" (ROLAG) programme in February 2024. This official partnership strengthens ongoing support for the Faculty of Law and Political Science at the National University of Laos.
The Inter-University Cooperation Project aims to cultivate a robust legal culture and promote best practices for Lao law students, the faculty, and researchers. The ultimate objective is to empower a critical mass of qualified law lecturers capable of solidifying the rule of law in Laos. This collaboration facilitates academic exchange opportunities between Uni.lu and National University of Laos, including faculty member visits, student exchanges, and staff collaborations.
Numerous activities mark the first six months
The initial six months have witnessed the establishment of new administrative and operational frameworks between the Uni.lu and LuxDev, following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the two entities. Shortly after, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade also granted a 2 MEUR extension to the ROLAG programme to allow alignment the Uni.lu project to the duration of the ROLAG programme, until 2027. Recently, the Uni.lu project also saw a change in the Project Liaison Officer, allowing for a fresh perspective to align the project with evolving needs and priorities. "The Faculty of Law and Political Science team has been incredibly welcoming and the contact with them was extremely smooth, explained Gwendal, the new Project Liaison Officer. It’s been a pleasure working with them so far."
During this first period of collaboration, a number of achievements have already been completed, including the following.
The project actively supported Faculty of Law and Political Science students in the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Moot Court Competition. A month-long training program equipped students with the necessary skills, culminating in a national round to select the winning team. This team proudly represented the National University of Laos at the Hong Kong IHL Moot Court Competition held earlier in 2024.
For the 7th Law Summer School in May 2024, the Project Leader Prof. Dr. Stefan Braum and three PhD students from Uni.lu, facilitated a workshop on "the importance of sovereignty in the transformation of the Lao People’s Republic into a Constitutional State" for eleven lecturers from the Faculty of Law and Political Science of Vientiane.
In 2024, the project introduced a new initiative called "Lunch and Learn". This monthly event provides an inviting space for teachers and researchers to share their experiences, knowledge, and research over delicious Lao dishes. Each session features a different presenter, fostering a dynamic and engaging atmosphere. The response from the teaching community has been positive, with many eagerly volunteering to present their work. These sessions spark exciting discussions on the progress and future goals of Lao’s journey towards becoming a rule of law state.
Also, four professors from the University of Luxembourg have visited Laos to deliver lectures on critical legal topics pertinent to Lao PDR's transition towards a rule of law state, namely International Private Law, Principles of Tax Law, Principles of Contract Law, and Comparative Legal Traditions.
In June 2024, the Faculty of Law and Political Science in Vientiane hosted a workshop on Clinical Legal Education, facilitated by Professor Elise Poillot from the Uni.lu and Mr. Fabrice Hénard, an international expert. Nineteen teachers from various departments participated, sharing their knowledge and experiences. The workshop focused on enhancing the Clinical Legal Education programme, setting appropriate standards, and fostering collaboration between the Luxembourg and Laos Clinical Legal Education programmes. Participants praised the workshop’s content and expressed a desire for more such events to further improve their skills and understanding of best practices in Clinical Legal Education.
Previously, the programme also provided research grants to Lao faculty members on crucial rule-of-law-related topics, such as "Nationality of Children Born from Illegal Surrogacy" and "Legal Problems in Managing Online Purchase and Sale of Goods". Currently, three faculty members are in Luxembourg for a three-month research visit at the Uni.lu. They currently benefit of support from professors of the Uni.lu to improve their academic and research skills in the legal field, to strengthen their research capacities and deepen their research on fair trial in criminal proceedings, the influence of international law on the genesis of the rule of law in Laos and LGBTQ+ rights.
Furthermore, ongoing support continues for Lao Master's and PhD students pursuing their studies at the University of Luxembourg. Amphon Khammanivong recently completed his first year of master’s degree in law at the Uni.lu, and PhD student Pangthong Xayyavong recently presented his second research progress report on Laos legal framework for foreign investment and environmental protection, particularly in the mining sector.
Continued collaboration for a stronger legal future
Future activities include research visits to Luxembourg, the launch of new one-year research grants, invitations to Uni.lu professors for guest lectures, and the organisation of a winter school scheduled for early next year. Through this ongoing collaboration, the Uni.lu project plays a vital role in nurturing a robust legal framework and empowering the next generation of legal professionals in Laos.
The Uni.lu project remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting the Faculty of Law and Political Science, in close collaboration with the ROLAG programme, and vice versa. Lone, the Senior Sector Adviser of the ROLAG programme highlighted the mutual benefit of integrating the Uni.lu project: "By joining forces under LuxDev’s implementation mechanism, the Uni.lu project gains access to LuxDev’s administrative expertise and resources, allowing for more efficient management. Conversely, ROLAG deepens its engagement with the Faculty of Law and Political Science, especially in terms of strengthening research capacity through additional opportunities to contribute to the faculty’s academic development". In short, the synergy between ROLAG and Uni.lu is a real win-win scenario – for both programmes, but also for Faculty of Law and Political Science staff and management.
The ROLAG programme is financed by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and jointly implemented by the Ministry of Education and Sports, the Ministry of Justice, LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency, ILSTA and the University of Luxembourg.
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