CALL FOR COURSE PROPOSALS
13th Law Schools Global League (LSGL) Summer School
University of Pretoria, South Africa
(30 June to 11 July 2025)

Call for Course Proposals
We are now accepting course proposals for the 13th LSGL Summer School, which will take place across two weeks between 30 June-11 July 2025 in Pretoria, South Africa. Two courses will be held in each week of the summer school.
We would particularly like to welcome proposals for courses relating to the theme of “A Reality Check: Comparative Analysis of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and the African Union Agenda 2063 – Law as a Case in Point” (see page 3).

Eligibility
This call is open to all academic staff at member institutions of LSGL.
Each course should be developed and co-taught by at least two convenors from different member schools.

Compensation
An honorarium of €2,500 will be divided between the two convenors teaching each course.
Lodging and air fare should be paid for by the institution sending the convenor.
The host will assist in booking an affordable accommodation nearby.

Course Proposal Requirements:

• The names of the co-conveners;
• The subject and breakdown of topics for the course;
• The significance of the theme of law and inequality
• Proposed assessment and teaching methods.
• Suggested bibliography (including texts to be discussed in class);
• Availability for each week of the summer school;
• A confirmation email/letter from the member school’s Dean’s Office,
  confirming their support for the professor’s participation and commitment to covering travel expenses.
• Academic CVs, a short biography, and a photo (high-resolution) of co-conveners.
  

Deadline for Proposals
The deadline for submitting course proposals to the LSGL Presidency (presidency@lawschoolsgloballeague.com) is 24 January 2025. The LSGL presidency and the host institution will evaluate the proposals and make final selections.
We look forward to receiving your proposals to offer another outstanding summer school program.

LSGL Summer School Guidelines

General Vision:
The LSGL Summer School gives students a cutting-edge learning experience in exploring the challenges of the legal profession in an increasingly globalized world. Building on the genuine global features of LSGL and collaboration of LSGL-members’ faculty coming from all major legal systems in designing and instructing the courses, the LSGL Summer School offers participants a unique professional and social opportunity that is unmatched by the current market for summer schools.

Audience:
The chief audience for the LSGL Summer School is students enrolled in the LSGL member institutions who have completed at least one year of law education. The member schools will aid in attracting and recruiting applicants. Each LSGL member school shall pay to the host institution €1,000 tuition fee for one student. Please note that payment is due even if no students are sent by the institution member.

Design and Instruction of Courses:
To maximize the benefits of LSGL as a global academic partnership, courses for the summer school should be designed and taught as a collaboration of LSGL members’ faculty, bringing together knowledge from different legal systems, sources in different languages that could be translated into English, and methodological diversity.
Professors should avoid lecture- style classes, preferring instead student-centered teaching methods.

Schedule of Courses and Credit Value:
To meet certification requirements, allowing students to transfer credits earned at the LSGL Summer School to their home law schools, a one-week course will be comprised of 700 minutes of class work. This number meets the
U.S. ABA requirement for a 1-credit course, which is strictest time-standard for a 1-credit among LSGL member schools. Each daily session will be comprised of 140 minutes of class work (5 X 140 = 700).

Evaluation and Grading:
To allow students to transfer credits to their home law schools, students’ performance in the LSGL Summer School should be evaluated and graded. For this purpose, the LSGL Summer School will establish a standard set of evaluation and grading rules.
Since the courses will be condensed, evaluation will be based on one in-class exam or a final paper. The course convenors will decide in advance on their evaluation method (exam or paper) and this will be stated in the summer school’s handbook. The submission date of a final paper will be set by the course convenors, but the grading process must be completed by the middle of August (as pass/fail), to allow students to transfer credits to their home law schools in the subsequent term.

Certification and Grade Sheet:
The host school and LSGL are authorized to issue certificates and grade sheets to students in the LSGL Summer School. All documents will be produced and signed by dean of the host school and LSGL’s co-presidents.

13th LSGL SUMMER SCHOOL
THEME

“A Reality Check: Comparative Analysis of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and the African Union Agenda 2063 – Law as a Case in Point”

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 (AU Agenda 2063) offer visionary frameworks for addressing a wide range of global challenges, with a focus on inclusive growth, human rights, gender equality, quality education, maintenance and preservation of peace and security, and sustainable infrastructure. However, implementation issues are still a challenge.
Thirty years into democracy, South Africa is still dealing with entrenched economic inequality, social injustice, and environmental devastation. The impact of mining and extractive industries on marginalized communities remains a major concern as climate change threatens South Africa’s biodiversity, water security, and economic stability. Similarly, the country’s protracted energy crisis remains a major concern as the debilitating electricity outages have hampered economic progress and worsened inequality. Global disruptors such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) compound these challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed shortcomings in the healthcare system as well as corruption in the South African public administration which undermined institutional trust. The 4IR brings significant technological innovations while exacerbating inequality, job dislocation, and digital divides.

These challenges are not unique to South Africa but are echoed in various forms across the continent. Environmental deterioration and excessive use endanger the African continent’s immense natural resources, ranging from biodiversity in the Congo Basin to the Nile River’s hydroelectric potential. The Sahel region struggles with drought, desertification, and food shortages, while the Horn of Africa and the Cabo Delgado region of Mozambique struggle with civil unrest and armed conflict.
This landscape reflects broader global challenges. The triple pressures of 4IR-driven technological innovation, environmental degradation, and geopolitical conflicts combine to highlight the world’s interconnectivity. For instance, the digital divide remains a pressing issue in many Asian countries; with rural areas and lower-income populations struggling to access reliable internet, hindering economic growth and opportunities. Australia’s climate change vulnerability is starkly evident in its bushfire-prone regions, where rising temperatures and drought have created a perfect storm of environmental disaster. Across the Atlantic, France faces unique challenges in balancing national identity with cultural diversity, sparking debates on integration and social cohesion, and true gender parity remains elusive in the UK, where women hold disproportionately less leadership roles.

As the world navigates this intricate web of challenges, it becomes clear that innovative, collaborative solutions are essential as rising inequality, social unrest, migration, and digital governance are reshaping the contours of human security, while issues like pandemic preparedness and global health emergencies starkly highlight the world’s interconnectivity. It is against this background that the 13th Law Schools Global League (LSGL) Summer School invites course proposals for its 2025 program themed:

“A Reality Check: Comparative Analysis of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 – Law as a Case in Point”

By bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise, we aim to cultivate a community of thought leaders equipped to tackle the intricacies of sustainable development. The summer school will provide a platform for interdisciplinary research, knowledge sharing, and collaborative problem-solving.

Proposals can be articulated, although not exclusively, around the following themes:

• Exploring linkages and synergies between SDGs 2030 and the AU Agenda 2063.
• Examining the legal systems that govern global sustainable development.
• Examining the legal systems that govern global sustainable development.
• Examining legal frameworks, challenges, and opportunities for implementation.
• Creating new solutions to address important concerns in South Africa, Africa, and across the globe.
• Analyzing human rights implications of SDGs and AU Agenda 2063 implementation.
• Assessing climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies in African contexts.
• Examining the intersection of technology, law, and sustainable development.
• Developing policy frameworks for inclusive economic growth and social justice.
• Investigating migration, refugee, and displacement issues concerning SDGs and AU Agenda 2063.
• Promoting international cooperation and multilateralism.
• Strengthening institutional capacity for SDG implementation.
• Empowering marginalized communities through gender equality, children’s rights, and disability inclusion.
• Leveraging technology for SDG achievement, including AI, blockchain, and innovative solutions.
• Addressing pandemics, global health emergencies, and healthcare infrastructure.
• Examining sustainable urban planning, infrastructure development, and environmental resilience.
• Conducting comparative studies of SDG implementation across regions and sharing best practices.