About the Centre

The Sydney Centre for International and Global Law was established in 2003 as a centre of excellence in research and teaching in international law. The Centre aims to provide a fresh focus for international legal research and practice in Australia. The Centre operates within the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Law and builds upon the Faculty’s well-recognised history of research, scholarship and teaching in the area of international law. The Centre was established in order to pursue several main objectives:

to promote excellence in the teaching of international law;
to make a major contribution to international legal scholarship;
to play a significant advisory role for governments and non-governmental organizations in the Asia Pacific region in matters of international law; and
to enhance public awareness of, and interest in, international law.

Over the last two decades we have seen a dramatic increase in the way public international law influences the conduct of states, citizens and corporations. There is an ever-growing body of international and transnational rules governing activities at the international and domestic levels. More of us than ever before are taking part in the practices and processes of international law. These are significant changes and their impact has accelerated the need for research, for teaching excellence and for independent and comprehensive advice.

The primary focus of the Sydney Centre for International and Global Law is the operation of international law in the region. The Centre specialises in teaching, research, consultancy and in promoting public debate on international legal issues. Apart from attracting doctoral students from across the region, the Centre is developing a program for visiting fellows. It provides services to governments and non-government organizations here and throughout the Asia Pacific. It actively seeks out centres of international research excellence elsewhere for purposes of collaboration. Above all the Centre aims to foster links throughout Australia and the Asia Pacific region for those involved in the practice of international law.

The Advisory Board consists of distinguished international lawyers.

The Centre's Associates are involved in teaching, research, media and consultancy work. The Centre is located in the Faculty of Law at the University of Sydney.

The Aims and Objectives of the Centre

The Centre will promote excellence in teaching by:

Offering a range of courses, many of them new to the University and to the region, that specialize in global and international law;
Offering units of study at postgraduate level that feature traditional international law and its newly emerging fields;
Attracting doctoral students of the highest calibre from the Asia Pacific region;
Providing a centre within the region that deals exclusively with the study of international law;
Promoting the Jessup International Law Moot Court competition.

The Centre will contribute to scholarship and research by:

Developing and expanding research within international law that builds on the well-recognised expertise that is already a feature of the Law School
Achieving eminence as the only centre of research in international law within the Asia Pacific region;
Obtaining project funds from here and abroad that allow for pro bono undertakings in the public interest.

The Centre will have an advisory role because it will:

For the first time within the region develop the means to address comprehensively the needs of any who come to it for advice;
Offer practical and independent advice on matters that are politically sensitive and also confidential;
Bridge the gap that separates universities, private practice and government;
Be sufficiently flexible to service a range of clients including governments, corporations and NGOs.

The Centre will enhance public awareness of, and interest in, international law:

By organising public fora and seminars to promote and facilitate debate on important issues of international law.
By providing the media with expert and independent advice on issues of international law.

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