This summer, I had the privilege of attending the Rhodes Academy for Ocean Law and Policy in Rhodes, Greece. The program ran from June 23rd to July 12th. It was an intensive three-week course on the law of the sea with lectures from some of the most accomplished in the field, including current and past judges of the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), practicing the law of the sea lawyers, and a negotiator from UNCLOS III. One of the most enjoyable parts of the program was the group workshops, which took place on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. There were often elaborate group exercises, which ended in student presentations and, often, lively debate! While UNCLOS and the law of the sea were the primary topics of discussion, there were lectures on ocean geology, hydrography and climate change.
The course was comprised of 50 students from around the world with varying educational and professional backgrounds. The program was not just lectures, studying and tests. There were many organized events, including day trips to Lindos on Rhodes Island and the Island of Simi.
The program culminates in an oral exam on the final Friday (there was a written exam on the second Friday), followed by an evening tour of the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes and the graduation ceremony outside near the palace. It was a wonderful experience, and I recommend it to others looking for an intensive introduction to the law of the sea and a chance to meet and network with many in the field.
