83 Students Join the Geneva Academy for a New Academic Year

Our LLM class comprises 41 students from 23 different countries: Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, China, Ethiopia, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, India, Iran, Italy, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States of America, and Zimbabwe

Likewise, our MTJ class boasts an equally diverse representation, with 42 students from 30 countries: Afghanistan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Gambia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Nepal, Northern Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Philippines, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, United Kingdom, USA, and Zimbabwe

A highlight of the orientation week was the set of specially designed workshops on gender, inclusiveness, and intercultural competences. Head of Education Dr Clotilde Pégorier explained, ‘Our students arrive in Geneva from many different countries and have a broad set of cultural experiences. By arranging these activities at the start of their time with us, we hope to foster an understanding in the student body of the diverse multicultural nature of life here. This is not only important as part of their studies, but will also set them up to be truly global citizens post-graduation and equip them with important soft skills which will be useful in their future careers.’

On the Tuesday of orientation week, the Geneva Academy team led by our new director, Paola Gaeta, welcomed the students at the University of Geneva. After introductions from the Academy's first director, Andrew Clapham, and faculty member and Professor at the Geneva Graduate Institute, Neus Torbisco-Casals, they heard from the education, communication, research and Geneva Human Rights Platform units, and ended with a networking reception.

The orientation week concluded with city tours for those arriving in Geneva for the first time. These began at the famous flower clock by Lac Leman and continued through the old town, to the Alabama Room where the first Geneva Conventions were signed.

29 scholarships have been awarded to students, highlighting our commitment to academic excellence and diversity. These are granted through a rigorous selection process, emphasizing academic merit, extracurricular achievements, and financial need.

New Courses

This academic year, two new optional courses have been introduced:

• Non-State Armed Groups with Professor Sandesh Sivakumaran
• Decolonisation and Law with Professor Foluke Adebisi

These complement eight continuing optional courses on issues including international cyber security law, gender and international crimes, and enforced disappearances in international law.
‘Our optional course offering evolves each year, bringing fresh content to the curriculum. In addition to the fundamental core courses, the pertinent issues explored in these courses are indispensable for those aspiring to engage in the humanitarian, human rights and transitional justice fields’ explains Dr Pégorier.