Exchange programmes, mooting and research: the Annual Report from the Institute of European and Comparative Law

The 2011 Annual Report gives an account of another successful academic year at the Institute, in which it carried on with its mission to support the Oxford Law Faculty in its teaching and research activities in EU law and comparative law.

The Institute's Director, Stefan Vogenauer, writes:

"I am particularly delighted to report the ongoing success of the ‘Law with Law Studies in Europe’ programme (internally known as ‘Course 2’) with ever increasing numbers of applicants, a by now well-established exchange with the University of Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona and this year’s outstanding finals results of our Course 2 students (over half of them obtained a First class degree). Discussions as to a possible extension of the programme to China are underway.

"We continue to organise events of all kinds, ranging from discussion groups to small seminars and big conferences. They attracted huge numbers of participants and are listed in the report. The annual French Law moot has by now become a fixture. All these events were externally funded.

"External funding was also obtained for a number of research positions at post-doctoral level: we currently have a Marie Curie Fellow (funded by the EU), a Fellow working on the Common Frame of European Contract Law (funded by the AHRC), two ‘State of the State Fellows’ (funded by the eponymous programme of the Volkswagen Foundation); and will soon be able to add an annual ‘Stockholm Centre Oxford Fellow (funded by the Stockholm Centre for Commercial Law).

"Much of the research that was conducted by members of the Institute was published or presented during the academic year 2010-2011. A detailed list is included in the report.

"As Director of the Institute, I am grateful to all our benefactors and donors who enable us to pursue such an ambitious agenda. A particular note of thanks goes to Jenny Dix who has coped with an ever increasing workload in what continues a rapidly growing institution."