Dubai, United Arab Emirates; 30 October 2024: Saint Joseph University Dubai and the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing legal education and providing students with invaluable practical experience within a courts system ecosystem. The signing ceremony took place at the university’s premises in the presence of the Director of the DIFC Courts, H.E. Justice Omar Al Mheiri, and the President of Saint Joseph University, Professor Salim Daccache and the Dean of the School of Law, Professor Marie-Claude Najem, cementing a new era of cooperation between these two prestigious institutions.
The MoU outlines several areas of collaboration, including organising joint outreach initiatives such as seminars, conferences, and workshops. These initiatives will provide both law students and legal professionals with opportunities to engage with the latest developments within a courts system. Additionally, the MoU will enable students from Saint Joseph University to participate in training programmes hosted by the DIFC Courts, where they will gain first-hand exposure to judicial proceedings and court practices.
A key component of the MoU is the involvement of DIFC Courts’ judges in the academic development of Saint Joseph University students. The agreement allows the DIFC Courts judges to contribute by delivering guest lectures, teaching specialised courses, and supervising mock trials. These activities will not only bridge the gap between theory and practice, but also prepare students for the evolving demands of the legal profession.
The President of Saint Joseph University Dubai, speaking at the ceremony, highlighted the significance of this collaboration, stating, “We have a long-standing and strong relationship with the DIFC Courts, as the Courts have hosted a large number of our students for internships, and regular visits were organised to acquaint students with the workings of the UAE’s first and oldest common law jurisdiction. Additionally, workshops were held at the university, through which students benefited from the international expertise of the DIFC Courts. We hope that this fruitful cooperation will continue in the future, and we look forward to more initiatives and workshops that enhance our students’ education.”
The Director of the DIFC Courts echoed this sentiment, adding, “We believe that this partnership will greatly support not only the educational sector within Dubai and the UAE, but also the future courts and legal sector, as it will allow us to exchange information and expertise between both parties. Work with universities has long been a strategic priority of the DIFC Courts given that it allows us to contribute to building bridges of cooperation and knowledge and lays the foundation blocks for future court and legal enhancements. We look forward to strengthening the connections between students and our courts service and to the new opportunities for practical training and employment provided by the DIFC Courts.”
The collaboration between Saint Joseph University Dubai and the DIFC Courts underscores a shared commitment to fostering excellence in legal education and preparing students to excel in a dynamic courts and legal environment.
