Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information below is subject to change,
in particular that concerning the teaching mode (presential, distance or in a comodal or hybrid format).
6 credits
60.0 h
Q1
Teacher(s)
d'Argent Pierre;
Language
English
Main themes
The course presents in a systematic way the fundamental features of Public international law, being the legal order governing relations within the 'International Community'. It also covers the main questions relating to the application of international law by domestic courts. The founding elements of the discipline will be exposed, i.e.:
- General concepts;
- Subjects of international law;
- Sources of international law (together with the relationship of sources with domestic law);
- International responsibility;
- Pacific settlement of disputes;
- Collective security, use of force and sanctions;
- Regime and protection of spaces;
- Basic aspects of the international protection of Human rights;
- Basic rules of international trade.
Aims
At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to : | |
| 1 |
The aim of this course is to make students familiar with the basic rules governing the international society, composed primarily of States, and to analyze the issues that may be raised by their enforcement in national legal systems, especially in the Belgian one. The purpose is also to enable students to better understand current international events with the perspective of the legal rules governing international relations. |
Content
The course is divided into 6 parts, the first four being taught by Pierre d'Argent and the last two by Joe Verhoeven: 1. Sources of IL 2. Subjects of IL 3. International responsibility and sanctions 4. Use of force and collective security 5. Pacific settlement of disputes 6. Law of common spaces (rivers, sea, air, space, Antarctic')
Teaching methods
Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.
This course is based on a combination of (1) classroom lectures, (2) a MOOC and (3) continuous assessment.1. Classroom lectures
Normally, we would have met for lectures 4 hours a week: 2 hours on Thursday morning and 2 hours on Friday afternoon.
However, due to health reasons, we are unable to bring together all the students registered for the course at the same time.
As a result, students are divided into two groups and you will have face-to-face classes only once a week:
- students with an even NOMA will have classes on Thursdays (9.00-10.30 am, MONT 10);
- students with an odd NOMA will have classes on Friday (14:00-15:30, MONT 11).
I will give the same course on Thursday and Friday. These classes will last 90 minutes. They will NOT be recorded, to encourage you to participate. Depending on the week, the lessons will take place in English (general international law) or in French (questions of application of international law in Belgian law).
COME TO THE COURSE EVERY WEEK!
Tip: come to the lectures without a computer as you will already be using it for the MOOC, while it will be useless and a distraction during the classroom lessons; just take handwritten notes!
The first two classroom lessons will take place during the second week of term ("S2"), on Thursday 24 and Friday 25 September, respectively.
There will therefore be no audience lessons on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 September. However, according to the calendar below, you are invited during the first week of term ("S1") to register for the MOOC as specified below and to follow the "Week 1" of the MOOC from home.
2. The MOOC
A considerable part of the course is taught to you by a "Massive Open Online Course" (MOOC).
DO THE MOOC throughout the year according to the calendar that is offered to you: research conducted by the Louvain Learning Lab has shown a very clear correlation between passing (or failing) the Public International Law exam and having (or not having) done all the MOOC learning activities.
To register for the MOOC :
- click on the following private link in a new window: https://ecommerce.edx.org/coupons/offer/?code=WJCJJ2U65OLZKJOK
- click on "Enroll Now".
- create a "user account" based on your university email address (...@student.uclouvain.be)
- never delete your edX account!
FAQ about the use of edX courses at UCLouvain: http://bit.ly/faq-moocs-etudiants (intranet)
The various MOOC videos and readings are punctuated by small questions (auto-corrected) that allow you to check your knowledge and understanding of the subject. Likewise, each MOOC "Week" ends with a "Weekly Exam", a short summary MCQ designed to help you learn the subject and to evaluate your learning. Finally, the MOOC ends with a "Final Exam" in which you are also invited to participate to ensure assimilation of the subject and to prepare you for the exam in the audience. The assessment activities available throughout the MOOC do not form part of your Final Exam mark in your course programme. There is therefore no risk in participating in them. On the other hand, there is a great interest in participating, as it will allow you to gradually measure your understanding and knowledge of the subject matter, and most importantly, it will allow you to prepare adequately for the public examination.
Tip: do the MOOC by taking handwritten notes when you watch the videos or read the texts, as if you were in class; it is important to make your own course notes, this is the most appropriate way to take personal ownership of the material!
3. Continuous assessment
Through the preparations to be done at home, the calendar of the different weeks proposes a progressive and continuous rhythm of learning MOOC.
FOLLOW THE CALENDAR available on the Moodle page of the course in order to assimilate the material progressively! For each week of the course, the Home Work to be done before the lecture in the classroom is indicated, as well as the content of that lecture.
During S9, a mid-term exam will be organised on TestWe, which does not dispense with the corresponding subject matter for the final exam. This partial exam will be worth 7 points (35%) of the final exam of the January session.
The dates and modalities of the mid-term and final exams will be specified during the term.
The examination material consists of the MOOC content, plus the content of the classroom lessons. The classroom lessons may overlap with information in the MOOC or add subject matter elements.
The texts of the MOOC videos and readings are available in PDF format on the MOOC (Video Transcipts & Readings).
Documents posted on Moodle are an integral part of the material.
The "MOOC Outline" offers a schematic and orderly summary of MOOC. The same applies to the "synopsis" concerning the part taught in French.
No annotation is allowed in the Reading Material, except underlining, highlighting, tabs without inscription. It is also allowed to circle words, to make arrows. However, no handwritten annotation, no cross-referencing of text or numbers is allowed.
During the examination, you may use a standard dictionary from your mother tongue into French/English (and vice versa), provided that it is blank of any annotations.
Evaluation methods
Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.
Mid-term written exam during week 9 of the term, worth 7 points of the final exam.
Other information
See above under Methods of teaching.
Online resources
See above under Methods of teaching and the Moodle page of the course.
Faculty or entity
BUDR
