In the present, evermore globalized era, there is without any doubt, a need for homogenized curricula at a European level and a need for institutions that can offer students qualifications, knowledge and skills that are recognized across national boarders.
Aiming to be continuously at the forefront of research and education, the European Public Law Organization (EPLO) has created a higher education institution under the name of “European Law and Governance School” (ELGS), which constitutes the materialization of this need.
The European Law and Governance School is founded upon the belief that the European Union plays a crucial role in ensuring global stability, promoting democracy, and the overall progress of mankind, and that the core values of the European Union must be upheld while it strives for better integration.
The ELGS also believes that the key source of hope and the only path to successful integration is through the proper education and training of the youth of Europe.
Thus, the Vision of the ELGS , in the first place, is to create a generation of youth that will identify themselves as Europeans, that will serve Europe, and that will disseminate the idea, culture and values of Europe throughout the world. Moreover the vision of the ELGS is to educate a generation of youth all over the world who is interested in European Law & Governance and will thus prepare themselves to serve their nations in the better understanding Europe, doing business with Europe and promoting their national interests within the Brussels context. This way the ELGS serves a Global Objective in Education.
Inspired by the values that lie at the heart of the European Union, such as fundamental rights, the free movement of professionals, goods and services, and the creation of a single market system, as well as by the challenges and opportunities created by these policies, the ELGS has identified the need to create a new form of education that is Pan-European in character and at the same time Universal, in a dialogue of civilizations.
This education must start at the undergraduate level in order to create and prepare the next generation of legal and governance scholars to work within the fast-evolving European and International institutional structures.
The idea was initially conceived by Professor Giuliano Amato, Former Prime Minister of Italy, member of the Board of Directors of the EPLO.
To that effect, in 2008 the “Group of Rome” was constituted around him and comprised of the most esteemed professors and practitioners. The Group met regularly to discuss the various strategic and operational aspects of the project.
As the time passed, the project matured enough for the Board of Directors of the EPLO to decide in 2009 to create an EPLO agency called the “European Law and Governance School”, thus providing it with all the necessary tools and empowerment needed to achieve its objective.
The inaugural launching of the School took place with the first symbolic meeting of the Board of Trustees at the premises of the European Parliament in the spring of 2013. The further development of the School followed while 2016 marked the initiation of the Schools’ programs. The programs were announced at the Quirinale Palace of Italy in the presence of H.E. The President of the Republic of Italy Mr. Sergio Mattarella on May 18, 2016.
The School’s logo was inspired by the recently uncovered 6-winged seraphim mosaic of the church of Agia Sophia, in Istanbul which is estimated to be over 700 years old. Furthermore, the phrase surrounding the logo is derived from ancient Greek and is “ΑΜΕΣ ΔΕ Γ ‘ΕΣΣΟΜΕΣΘΑ ΠΟΛΛΩ, ΚΑΡΡΟΝΕΣ”. This phrase was used by the Ancient Spartans in what was called the “Circle of Spartan” and stated what the younger generations were promising their elders , that they will become much better than their generation.
The symbolic significance is substantial, as the archangel was unearthed at a prominent geographical location at the crossroads of civilization, and the phrase surrounding it encompasses the ELGS mission, which is to constantly strive for excellence.
Scope and Goals
The European Law and Governance School (ELGS) is a modern international school with the aim and mission to offer Excellence in tertiary levels of Education in the fields of European Law and Governance.
The School aims to shape socially responsible leaders of the future with inquisitive minds and free spirits.
The ELGS is committed to educating the next generation of Europe and the World’s legal practitioners, public administrators and world leaders by imparting them with the knowledge necessary to effectively work within the fast evolving European and global institutional structures that transcend national frameworks, and the skills to confront and address the new global opportunities and challenges.
The ELGS provides interdisciplinary undergraduate, postgraduate courses, and Executive Education courses, with fresh material and a unique design.
Three pillars encompass this establishments’ policy and values:
- to offer Excellence in education through theory, practice, and transversal skills development,
- to promote Innovation and Intellectual Curiosity through a supportive and flexible environment,
- to encourage Change in society by cultivating the European citizens of tomorrow.
Why study at the ELGS:
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- It offers one-of-a-kind interdisciplinary curricula
- taught by a faculty network of the world’s best
- dedicated to creating the leaders of tomorrow
- delivered at a stunning and culturally rich location
The School offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses with a unique design, incomparable curriculum and fresh material that enable students a high degree of personalization, flexibility and interdisciplinarity. Students can choose from: a track of studies that offers a pan-European perspective of legal studies, or a track that focuses on European governance studies, or can select interdisciplinary degrees that combine both approaches.
The legal track of the ELGS Undergraduate studies aim to shape the European lawyer of the new era, focusing on the European perspective of the legal profession, while highlighting the common legal traditions of European states and the principles that underpin the discipline on a global scale. The ELGS Postgraduate level legal studies offer a specialization in either European or International law, uniquely blending them with analyses of national legal systems and frameworks.The ELGS Postgraduate level legal studies offer a specialization in either European or International law, uniquely blending them with analyses of national legal systems and frameworks.
The ELGS Undergraduate curriculum focuses also on world-wide governance studies, contributing to the creation of a new generation of highly skilled administrators and leaders. At the postgraduate level the ELGS Governance studies will complement and advance the qualifications of its graduates.
The range of optional modules and opportunities for student mobility and internships supports a high degree of personalization of studies, enabling students to tailor-make their educational experiences. In accordance with recent trends in higher education, special attention is given to the development of transversal skills and research methodology. At the heart of the ELGS’ offering is the ability to create majors, minors and specializations in topics, as well as joint degree programs, which enable students at all levels of studies to take classes from both the legal tracks and the governance programs, to ensure a truly interdisciplinary approach to law and governance studies.