Founded in November 1948, Saarland University was originally established as a bilingual university that combined French and German educational traditions while offering a unique European perspective. The university, which was established with the support of the French Government and the University of Nancy, was the first to be founded west of the River Rhine after the Second World War. At the time, Saarland found itself in the special situation of being partly autonomous while linked to France by an economic and monetary union.
The university teaches various disciplines and has 6 faculties: Human and Business Sciences,
Medicine, Mathematics and Computer Science, Natural Sciences and Technology, Humanities and Law. 16,700 students learn at the Saarland University, 20% out of whom are international students. 279 professors, 1245 other academic staff and 250 student teaching and research assistants are responsible for maintaining high quality in research and teaching.
The Europa-Institut of Saarland University (USAAR) as part of the Faculty of Law is the second oldest institution of its kind in Europe. Since its foundation in 1951, it has been engaged in teaching and research in European and international Law with a particular emphasis on European integration. In its research activities, USAAR focusses on human rights issues, the European Union and its policy areas, the international trade system, the resolution of international conflicts and the challenges arising from the deepening of European integration for both Member States and candidate countries. In this regard, the neighbourhood of the EU has become more important in the last years and taken the centre stage of research and cooperation activities. USAAR (Europa-Institut) is already fully committed to the Academic Reconstruction of South Eastern Europe project in co-operation with the South East European Law School Network (SEELS). Moreover, USAAR (Europa-Institut) is the project leader of the Thematic Network “SEE/EU Cluster of Excellence in European and International Law” which aims at the establishment of a regional cluster of excellence in European and International Law together with the law faculties of the universities of Zagreb, Belgrade, Sarajevo and Skopje, as well as the Centre for SEELS.
Furthermore, the directors and the scientific staff of the Europa-Institut conduct extensive and
intensive research in European and international law; they are responsible for a high number of different publications, e.g. the journal “Zeitschrift für Europarechtliche Studien (ZEuS)”. Besides, various publication series emanate from the Europa-Institut. These excellent research and working conditions at the Europa-Institut are topped by its own specialised legal library which is also one of the 50 European documentation centres (EDZ) in Germany.
Finally, the Europa-Institut successfully conducts the one-year postgraduate master programme in “European and international Law” in which each year students from over 30 countries study the legal, political, economic and cultural foundations of the European Union. The programme is characterised by five special study units – European Integration, European Economic Law, Foreign Trade and Investment, International Dispute Resolution and European Protection of Human Rights. Successful participants are awarded the title Master of Laws (LL.M.). In addition to professors teaching at Saarland University, the teaching staff of the Europa-Institut includes international guest professors and lecturers from many countries. Among them are top officials from the EU (Commission, Council, European Parliament and Court of Justice) and the Council of Europe, as well as personalities holding top positions in business, the judiciary, administration and political sector. The Europa-Institut of Saarland University has been certified by the international accreditation agency ACQUIN in line with
the accreditation system of Saarland University. The programme accreditation officially certifies that the Europa-Institut of Saarland University stands for excellent research, as well as high-quality education. In addition, the Europa-Institut has been awarded the Certificate for Quality of Internationalisation (CeQuInt).
The University of Saarland/Europa Institut is among the most distinguished centres for studying international and European Law in the frame of which the issues of human and women’s rights, gender equality and anti-discrimination have been significantly included. Taking part in this Law and Gender project will present an important stimulus for Europa Institut to further address the mentioned issues in a gender-sensitive way. In addition, this Institution will adopt a few new courses as developed in the LAWGEM project.
