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Testimonials

Students on the Brandeis in The Hague programs expressed the following:

"I learned so much while on this program, and I also had the most amazing time. I had very high expectations for the program overall, and it exceeded those expectations!"
     - Julia Kuperminc, Brandeis University '13, Politics and International and Global Studies Major

"Professor Gaskins is a thoughtful and diligent professor. It was not only my pleasure to be taught by him, but his guidance was an integral part to the valuable learning experience I had in The Hague."
     - Will Guild, Brandeis University '14, Economics and International and Global Studies Major

"This program furthered my knowledge and understanding of international law. My time spent in The Hague was definitely one of the greatest and most inspiring times of my life. I will never forget what I have learned during my time abroad both academically and culturally."
    - Katharine Pena, Brandeis University '12, Politics and Music Major

"The course work was perfect. It remained relevant and exciting at all points which definitely enhanced the understanding of the subject matter."

"The concepts were taught in an amazing manner. Professor Gaskins kept the coursework fun and upbeat while teaching us the concepts."

"Everything was unbelievable. Better than I ever could have imagined."

"This program meshed together the academic and cultural experience I was looking for. It was an unbelievable trip and I would recommend it to anybody with an interest in the world and law."

"This program helped me understand the foundations of international law and progressed me on my career path."
    - Zachary Malis, Brandeis University '12, Business and International and Global Studies Major

"This program taught me so much about international law and human rights. It pushed me to think more deeply and intensely about justice issues that are dear to me and that I find endlessly fascinating. This learning experience, on top of living in such a beautiful city with amazing people, would push me to recommend this program to others."
     - Emily Zoller, Brandes University '14, Anthropology and International and Global Studies Major

"The court visits were an extraordinary source of learning for me. Not only did I read about how the court has an international panel of judges, but I saw an African female judge explaining a witness's testimony to the court room when the lawyer from Ireland was not understanding the cultural context of the witness' answer. This in-the-moment, experiential glimpse into working international criminal law gave me deeper insight into how a "multinational" court room functions than a textbook could have. Also, I enjoyed participating in a MOOT Court competition because we got a chance to consider the same cases that real international lawyers do, except the case was made up and fictional. But, the legal code and process that the MOOT Court applied matched closely the reality. I think going through the process of "confirmation of charges hearing" made me understand the process of international criminal court pleading even more than reading about it in a book. I was an active participant in international criminal law system that MOOT Court day, even if it was only pretend. And active learning forms memories that are more lasting than passive reading."
     - Amy Ouellette, Tufts University '12, International Relations & Political Science Major

"The program is really well organized. It connected really well. We actually get a chance to learn first and see the actual process in the court and then try to solve the problem we previously have."
     - Zongrui Li, Brandeis University '13, International and Global Studies Major

"My experience here was incredible. It was easier to absorb all the information because it was focused on one subject."

"The smaller size of this program allowed for much more discussion. Also, the seminars with professionals(such as the one with Judge Keith) and the bilingual summer school made us engage on a much higher level with the material than I think we would have had to otherwise."

"It was really hands-on, and it was extremely interesting and easy to translate the text we read into the real bodies of law we saw in action."

"Meetings with judges and prosecutors allowed us to examine many of the challenges faced by this growing field, as well as giving us a perspective into more practical matters."

"Taking courses that are interconnected allow a wide understanding of the subject. Having speakers that were both lawyers and judges as well as statesmen allowed us to gain a perspective from more than just politics of law. Rather we were able to combine what we heard and form a solid understanding of international law."

"Immersion is essential. We were able to have access to the most knowledgeable speakers on the subject."

"The interconnectedness enriched my understanding of the course material and helped me apply it to other related fields."

"Getting to go to the courts and see things first hand made the information that we learned come to life."

"The structure of lectures and guest speakers and the workshop all put together made the program what it was. The moot court exercise allowed us to play the role of a prosecution team and were able to put our legal skills to test. It gave me a much more concrete understanding of the raw legal material which I previously had never had experience with."

"This program is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The benefits from this program exceed any other academic experience I have had in my entire life. I am not sure if anything will ever compare to listening to a former president of the ICC lecture me on international law."

"In Europe, law is a subject of the liberal arts curriculum, alongside history, politics and philosophy. Studying the law at the Hague will give Brandeis students the chance to test their most cherished ideas -- about justice, say, or democracy -- against the rigors of real competing interests and claims.  No one knows better than a lawyer that the world's a complicated place: what better way to appreciate its complexities than through the lens of the law?"
     -Professor Chandler Rosenberger, International and Global Studies Department