30 October 2009

Official launch of Centre for International Law at NUS

New centre aims to be a regional intellectual hub with focus on six research areas

The National University of Singapore (NUS) announced the launch of the Centre for International Law (CIL), an intellectual hub that will promote international law research and education in the region.

Singapore Senior Minister and Co-ordinating Minister for National Security, Professor S Jayakumar officially launched CIL at a gathering of leading representatives from the legal, government, diplomatic, business and academic communities. The new Centre at the NUS Bukit Timah Campus is an outcome of close cooperation between NUS, the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The AGC contributes funding for many of CIL’s activities while the NUS Faculty of Law hosts the CIL office and contributes its facilities and academic staff.

The Centre aims to become a regional intellectual hub by conducting research and training to cater to the growing interest in international law studies in the region. It will initially focus on six thematic areas which are of immediate concern in the region, namely ASEAN Law and Policy; Ocean Law and Policy; Trade Law and Policy; Aviation Law and Policy; Intellectual Property Law and Policy; and International Dispute Settlement.

As a university-level research centre, CIL will collaborate with the NUS Faculty of Law and other schools, faculties and institutes at NUS when examining issues of international law from a multi-disciplinary perspective. Plans are underway to partner leading regional and international organisations and other universities to provide opportunities for learning and capacity-building to enhance expertise in Singapore and the region through various platforms, such as executive programmes, seminars and distinguished speaker conferences.

NUS President Professor Tan Chorh Chuan said, “The establishment of the Centre for International Law reflects NUS’ strong desire to contribute research and scholarship that will help inform and shape policies in the field of international law. We will endeavour to create value for ASEAN and the wider international community by building up the knowledge and expertise on international law and policy. The Centre augments NUS’ efforts, as a global university centred in Asia, at establishing thought leadership in areas of particular importance to the region.”

CIL’s founding director, Associate Professor Robert C Beckman, elaborated, “Recent global and regional developments, such as the signing of the ASEAN Charter, have brought international law into the forefront. The establishment of the Centre provides the region with an effective tool to share knowledge and expertise on significant international law issues.”

CIL is developing a Research Platform which will consist of a database and portal of ASEAN documents and global conventions. The platform is expected to be ready by January 2010.

Please refer to the fact sheet for more details on the Centre for International Law at NUS.

CIL Fact Sheet