OSCE supports introduction of rule of law course to law curriculum at Ukrainian universities

KYIV, 9 October, 2008 - Ways to improve the legal education system in Ukraine will be discussed at a conference, co-organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine, that opened in Kyiv today.

The two-day conference, "Rule of Law in Ukrainian Legal Education System", brings together legal scholars from 29 universities from 16 regions of Ukraine who will discuss a draft curriculum for a new rule of law course, as well as the curriculum for the legal theory course currently taught at Ukrainian universities.

"The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine supported the initiative of Ukrainian scholars to develop a rule of law course, which so far has not been part of the legal education in this country. We are reaching the final stage today, with these earlier efforts resulting in concrete proposals on changing the curriculum," said Robert Becker, Senior Project Manager at the office of the Project Co-ordinator, at the opening of the conference.

The conference is expected to result in recommendations for the Ministry of Education and Science on the inclusion of the rule of law course into the standard curriculum at Ukrainian universities, and on the need to introduce amendments to the structure of the legal theory course, taking into consideration European integration processes in the sphere of education.

The event is jointly organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine and the Law Faculty of the National University "Kyiv - Mohyla Academy", as part of a project implemented by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator with support from the United States Government.