In pioneering trip, GU-Q students experience The Hague firsthand
Tribune News Network
Doha
In a pioneering experiential learning course offered by Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q), 12 students recently travelled to The Hague, Netherlands, known as a hub of global law, to explore international justice up close.
The new course, 'The Hague, International Law, and Justice: Institutions, Civil Society and Academia,' was developed and led by Dr. Noha Aboueldahab, assistant professor of International Law, and brought students face-to-face with institutions at the core of global law and accountability.
For rising senior Bayan Kayali, who is majoring in International Politics, the trip was an important chance to see the inner workings of the international legal system in action.
'I gained invaluable insights about international law and justice that went far beyond what can be taught in a lecture hall,' she shared.
Aspiring lawyer Justin Pacer, from the Class of 2026, agreed, saying:'It was truly one of the most formative academic experiences I've had.'
Over the span of seven days, the students visited 13 institutions and engaged with nearly 25 professionals and academics from bodies such as the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, and the UN Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals.The course also included meetings with Dutch diplomats, legal advocates, and faculty from partner universities.
For several students, the trip was their last chance to gain real-world experience before graduation.
'I'm so grateful for the chance to learn from so many amazing practitioners, it was the perfect way to wrap up my undergrad journey,' shared International History major Natali Fanik. 'What this trip gave me was a deeply human connection to the material. Studying human rights litigation in theory doesn't capture what sitting with someone who spends every day trying to make it work in impossible circumstances.'
Her classmate Areesha Fatima, who studied International Economics with a minor in Justice and Peace Studies reiterated how meaningful this experience was, saying: 'It was easily one of the most enriching experiences I have had at Georgetown. Standing inside the institutions I have studied for years and speaking with the people who run them made me realise that a career in international justice is not just a distant dream. It helped me to envision my own place in these institutions and I can't think of a better way to end my undergraduate degree.'
The students' thoughtful engagement left a lasting impression on their hosts, including Senior Public Prosecutor Jolanda de Boer from the Netherlands National Public Prosecutors' Office, who said, 'The questions the students asked… were proof of their great commitment to and knowledge of international law. I was genuinely impressed.'
The Embassy of the Netherlands to Qatar also played a critical role in the success of the trip, providing suggestions and connections on the ground, including Ambassador Ferdinand Lahnstein, and Ilyaas Sherally, former head of political affairs at the embassy.
'It was a pleasure to support such a meaningful visit and a privilege to engage with such driven and sharp students. In times as unsettling and troubling as these, not least with the man-made catastrophe in Gaza, the importance of International Law and Justice cannot be overstated,' commented Sherally.
'No words can adequately describe the thrill of teaching this new experiential learning course,' said Dr. Aboueldahab, thanking her colleagues and trip co-organisers Angela Marongiu and Dr. Rowan Ellis. 'I'm deeply grateful to all those who took the time out of their busy schedules to engage, and especially to the amazing students who made this course special with their critical and constructive reflections.'
The students shared those reflections in final assignments submitted at the end of class, such as this excerpt from Justin Pacer's ePortfolio. 'I leave this trip with a much deeper sense of responsibility, empathy, and understanding. A responsibility to not just critique from a distance, but to engage. A responsibility to carry forward the labour of those who are working, often unseen, to move justice forward. And most of all, a responsibility to give back. To use what I've learned not just to write better papers, but to stand for something.'
Now celebrating two decades in Qatar, this course is a powerful example of GU-Q's commitment to bridging classroom theory with real-world insight—equipping students with firsthand exposure to the complexities of global justice.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Qatar Tribune
Netherlands to hold snap elections after coalition falls apart
Amsterdam: The Netherlands is set to hold new elections after the collapse of the governing coalition on Tuesday, Prime Minister Dick Schoof announced, hours after Geert Wilders' far-right party exited the government amid a dispute over migration policy. Schoof announced that he would offer King Willem-Alexander the government's resignation. Schoof's Cabinet is staying on as a caretaker government. An election is not expected until the autumn, leaving national politics in a state of limbo. Populist firebrand Wilders threatened on Sunday to pull out his anti-Islam Party of Freedom (PVV) - the strongest force in parliament - unless the four-party coalition led by independent Schoof agreed to his demands for a crackdown on immigration. His party's 10-point plan included measures such as the closure of Dutch borders to asylum seekers, the closure of asylum seeker reception centres and an end to family reunification for recognised refugees. 'No sign-off for our asylum plans, no adjustment of the coalition agreement. The PVV is leaving the coalition,' Wilders said earlier on Tuesday after failed consultations with the other parties on Monday evening. Opposition politicians immediately called for new elections following the PVV's exit from government, though the remaining three parties could potentially continue as an even more fragile minority government. (DPA)
Qatar Tribune
3 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Wilders threatens to leave Dutch government if no halt to asylum
AmsterdamcTypeface:> Dutch right-wing populist Geert Wilders has reiterated his threat to break up the governing coalition in The Hague if his demands for a relentlessly tough stance on asylum seekers are not met. Millions of Dutch people, he said, expected the implementation of a corresponding 10-point plan from his Party for Freedom (PVV), Wilders wrote on X on Sunday. The PVV leader added: 'Let me be very clear: If the majority of our proposals from the 10-point asylum plan are not adopted (and thus added to the coalition agreement) and the government does not implement them as quickly as possible, the PVV will exit this coalition.' Wilders issued the threat shortly before consultations by the four-party coalition on the PVV's demands, which, according to the ANP news agency, were scheduled for Monday evening. The PVV, the strongest force in parliament since the recent election, is demanding the closure of borders to all asylum seekers. If necessary, the army should be deployed to control the borders, Wilders had stated during the presentation of the plan a week ago. (DPA)
Qatar Tribune
6 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Georgetown DC students boost Arabic skills, cultural knowledge with debate workshops in Doha
Tribune News Network Doha A group of Arabic heritage learners from Georgetown University's Washington, DC, campus recently completed an immersive academic and cultural visit to Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q), culminating in their participation in a university-level Arabic debate competition hosted by Qatar University. The week-long exchange, aligned with Georgetown's commitment to multilingual and cross-cultural learning, offered the visiting students a chance to deepen their Arabic fluency while engaging with regional peers on critical issues. As part of their preparation, the team took part in five days of intensive debate workshops at GU-Q led by Dr. Seerwan Hariry, assistant teaching professor of Arabic. The sessions focused on the fundamentals of Arabic debating, including mock debates on timely topics such as environmental taxes and university admissions policies. Through these simulations, students practiced speaking formally in Arabic and refined their critical thinking skills. For Shady Makhlouf, an International Politics major (SFS 2025) studying in the United States, the trip was an incredible learning experience. 'The National debate competition we took part in was very special, as we combined teams from both campuses to form four teams. Although our campuses are thousands of miles apart, it felt as though we were competing as one university,' he said. His classmate Adelina Stulen (GU-Q'26), added: 'I could never imagine myself competing in Arabic debates, so it was certainly a new and challenging experience - but the energy and support of our Georgetown team made that day exciting for me!' Beyond the classroom, students had a chance to see how Arabic is used across Qatar.'We explored some of Qatar's most iconic institutions — from Al Jazeera to the Qatar National Museum, Qatar University, Qatar National Library, QF Headquarters, and many other places,' explained Dr. Hariry. One of the highlights was an exclusive tour of the Al Jazeera Media Network headquarters in Doha, where students observed live news production in both English and Arabic. The behind-the-scenes experience made a lasting impression on the students, who regularly practice their Arabic by watching excerpts from the media network, among other Liu, (SFS '28), who is studying Comparative Regional Studies in DC shared:'Seeing the actual set and the place that produces the Arabic media I use to learn was a great experience.' For Yinzhe Liu (SFS '28), the experience exposed her to a new career possibility in news: 'Witnessing live newsroom interaction and backstage operations taught me a lot,' she said. According to Dr. Hariry, the exchange and site visits helped students move beyond the classroom and into real-world application of the Arabic language, while engaging with fellow enthusiasts across continents. 'The students were delighted to host their DC peers and support a growing culture of collaboration between campuses,' he said. Shady agreed, saying 'The students we met were so kind and welcoming. I made new friends and reconnected with old friends that had visited the DC campus on past exchanges.' Although the Georgetown team did not place in the final rounds of the debate tournament, the experience of competing in Arabic against native speakers left a lasting impact. Students returned home with improved fluency, stronger debate skills, and greater cultural confidence—an experience that will continue to shape their academic and professional goals. The initiative underscores Georgetown's dedication to fostering intercultural dialogue and providing platforms for global learning across its campuses. As GU-Q celebrates its 20th anniversary, programs like this highlight the university's vision for producing ethically grounded, globally minded graduates.
