Modernising European Legal Education (MELE) : Innovative Strategies to Address Urgent Cross-Cutting Challenges

This open access book presents innovative strategies to address cross-cutting topics and foster transversal competences. The modernization of European legal education presents a compelling challenge that calls for enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration among academic disciplines and innovative teaching methods. The volume introduces venues towards education innovation and engages with complex and emerging topics such as datafication, climate change, gender, and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The insights presented not only emphasize the importance of preserving traditional approaches to legal disciplines and passing them on to future generations, but also underscore the need to critically reassess and revolutionize existing structures. As our societies become more diverse and our understanding of legitimacy, justice, and values undergoes transformations, it is imperative to reconsider the role of traditional values while exploring promising alternative approaches.

Mag. Dr. Oskar Josef Gstrein, LL.M. is Assistant Professor at the Department of Governance and Innovation at Campus Fryslân, where he is also Member of the Data Research Centre. Currently, he serves as Programme Director of the Bachelor Data Science and Society. He is teaching in several programmes including the LL.M. Governance and Law in a Digital Society, the interdisciplinary university-wide Minor Data Wise, and the Master in Computer Vision and Data Science at NHL Stenden/University of Applied Sciences. His overall research theme is ‘Human Dignity in the Digital Age’. His publications cover aspects of Human Rights in the Digital Age, Internet Governance, the governance of emerging technologies (incl. AI, Distributed Ledger Technologies), privacy, (cyber-)security, surveillance in the context of democracy and the rule of law, as well as digital identity. 

Dr. Mareike Fröhlich, LL.M. is Postdoc Research Associate at the Europa-Institut of Saarland andassociated with Jean Monnet Chair on EU Constitutional Framework for International Dispute Settlement and Rule of Law. She researches and teaches mainly in the field of European and International Economic Law as well as EU External Relations and EU Enlargement Policy. She is also Head of International Projects and Cooperation at the Europa-Institut. 

Prof. Dr. Caspar van den Berg is Professor of Global and Local Governance at the University of Groningen, and dean of the faculty Campus Fryslân. In his research, van den Berg focuses on politics, governance and identity at the international, national and regional levels. Alongside his professorial work and his research activities, van den Berg has been a member of the Council for Public Administration (Raad voor het Openbaar Bestuur, ROB) since 2019. The ROB is an important advisory body to the Dutch government and parliament. 

Prof. Dr. Thomas Giegerich, LL.M. (University of Virginia) is Director of the Europa-Institut, Professor of European Law, Public International Law and Public Law at Saarland University/Germany as well as holder of Jean Monnet Chair for European Integration, Antidiscrimination, Human Rights and Diversity (2017-2020). His main fields of research are European Law (EU Constitutional Law, Fundamental Rights, Antidiscrimination Law) and Public International Law, particularly International Human Rights Law.