Paolina Sadowa (photo: private)

some of the friendships I formed [during the summer programme] have persisted until today and we are planning to visit other countries together

Why did you choose to participate in SULaw Summer programme 2022?

Actually, it started as a coincidence. The summer programme was proposed to me by my university, which is an SU partner. I had always wanted to participate in an international law programme but was unable to do so through the Erasmus programme. When I looked into SULaw Summer Programme, what struck me the most was that we had a lot of options with many interesting courses, and teachers from other universities as well. It appeared to be a double exchange!

At the same time, SULaw has had a lot of positive feedback on their Summer Programme, so I knew that it would be a great opportunity to learn law in a different setting while also getting something out of the class.

Which courses did you choose and why did you choose them?

"Introduction to Public International Law": I chose this class because I was about to study Public International Law at my university during the coming year. I chose it as a preparation for this upcoming class. It was a great pleasure to learn from another professor and to see how they tackle the subject.

"Critical Issues in International Human Rights Law": as we have just lived through a pandemic and heard about more and more crises around the world, I found this class quite interesting because it provides future law professionals with a different, more political perspective. Professor Lutchman provided us with many insights into various issues, and she made us see problems that were present in other students' countries throughout group projects. It was like attending “International News” classes all at once; it was extremely beneficial.

What are your tips and tricks to make the most of the course(s) and your stay at SULaw?

When it comes to classes, it's good to be ambitious, but if you would take all four courses available in the session, you'll miss out on all social activities with other students and will definitely regret it. Also, read for each class so that you are aware of the topic of the day. As for other activities, the activities proposed by the organization team are excellent. They help to break the ice, and they're also quite entertaining. Once in Stockholm, join a WhatsApp group as well. It helps you to be aware of various invitations, get heads up about classes and propositions of activities that you can participate in together with other students. It also helps when you need something, such as a pot or an iron, because another person may already have it in their accommodation. Then, try your best to visit some museums as well, so you will be able to approach the city and its culture from a different perspective. The Faculty Team has lots of tips for that.

Finally, make yourself at home!

What did you enjoy the most during your stay in Stockholm?

First of all, we were very lucky because during our session of the Summer Programme, we met Stockholm ‘at its best’. The weather was fantastic, and we were able to do a lot of tours and outdoor activities such as riding Stockholm eBikes instead of visiting Stockholm via "Tunnelbana", its underground.

I've also met a lot of law students. We had many opportunities to discuss how their studies looked at their home universities. It was also fascinating to join them in the activities organized by the Faculty of Law. Starting on day two, it definitely broke some ice!

Finally, some of the friendships I formed during the summer programme have persisted until today and we are planning to visit other countries together.

Why should other students choose to study our Summer programme?

Well, first of all, it is an amazing experience. It is very rich in knowledge and also intense because we have little time to adjust. I bet it is a very good exercise for those who plan to participate in an Erasmus Programme; it gives a pretty good idea of, for instance, what to expect from an international exchange, or how to get along with new people.

Most importantly, everyone is there to make the most out of this time, so people are often very friendly and easy to get along with. The same goes with the faculty team, who responds quickly and to any questions that you may have, and they are very happy to provide you with advice on how to make your stay as good as possible.

How would you summarize SULaw Summer programme with 3 words?

Those would be: entertaining, rich and amazing! (I would definitely insist on the last one!)

Discover the courses Paolina took at SULaw:

Public International Law in Brief

Critical issues in International Human Rights law