di Ilenia Paciaroni

Thanks to the combine efforts between Professor Ermanno Calzolaio of the University of Macerata and Professor Gabriel Moens, Dean of the Faculty of Law of the Australian University of Murdoch, the Summer School in International and European Union Law is now in its second year and the city of Macerata is hosting 36 Australian students for a month. Professor Steve Shaw and the administrative manager Lyn Tooley give some of their free time to talk about the project.

“Our University” – explains Prof. Shaw – “organizes International Programmes for their students around the world, including China, USA and, of course, Italy. The students don’t follow courses of the host Universities, but courses of their own University degree program, but using local teachers. In particular here in Macerata they can choose from three modules, which are part of their home degree, taught by three Italian professors, two from Macerata and one from elsewhere.” “The three subjects are: EU Law, International Intellectual Property Law and Comparative Law” – Lyn Tooley continues – “Most of the students are interested in international law and they would like to work in this field. There are many international companies based in Australia with offices in London, Hong Kong, USA and Europe”.

What are the students’ impressions of the lessons and of the city?
“The questionnaires of last year’s visitors” – replies Tooley – “are 99% extremely positive. Also this year we have received very good hospitality. Thanks to Antonella Tiberi, who coordinates the program on behalf of the University of Macerata, the organization of all the activities is very good. There have also been trips outside the city, such as Urbisaglia and Fiastra.” “The city of Macerata” – according the Prof. Shaw – “is exceptional, small and friendly. Students love the country, the venue, the wine, the beer and food. The location is very good, because it’s easy to go to other Italian cities and the rest of Europe. Some students have been to Croatia, Amsterdam and Macedonia. You have to consider that Perth, the city which the students come from, is 1000 km from nearest city, which makes it very expensive to travel. Students usually work whilst studying in order to save money for travelling”.

“So there were many applications to take part in the Summer School” – continues Tooley – “because it provides the possibility, not only of furthering their University studies, but also of travelling relatively cheaply”. Prof. Shaw concludes the interesting conversation with an invitation: “it would be interesting to organize an exchange programme, in which students from Macerata could come to us in Perth, but the lessons would be in English”.
An opportunity not to be missed!