Cooperation with the University of York: Exchange of Teaching Methods and Student Visits
A joint project connected the Environmental Law Clinic in Belgrade and the University of York Sustainability Clinic through academic exchange, clinical teaching methods and completed student visits.
The Environmental Law Clinic of the University of Belgrade Faculty of Law participated in the international project “Enhancing Education in Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection Law through Environmental Law Clinics: International Exchange of Knowledge, Experience and Innovative Approaches”. The project was implemented within the YESI International Fellows 2024/2025 programme, with financial support from the University of York’s York Environmental Sustainability Institute (YESI). It was led by Prof. Dr Mirjana Drenovak-Ivanović, Head of the Environmental Law Clinic, and Prof. Dr Stephen Levett, Director of the University of York Sustainability Clinic.
The cooperation focused on strengthening clinical legal education in sustainability, environmental protection and climate change. Particular attention was given to experiential learning, scenario-based problems, the development of case studies, and connecting legal analysis with actual environmental and social challenges. The exchange also provided direct insight into the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method used in teaching at the University of York Law School.
In June 2025, Prof. Dr Mirjana Drenovak-Ivanović undertook an academic visit to the University of York. The programme included meetings with academic staff and students, visits to the Baroness Hale Legal Centre and the Sustainability Clinic, presentation of problem-based teaching methods, and field visits addressing flood protection and the conservation of natural areas. During the visit, she also delivered the lecture “Green Agenda and Sustainable Connectivity in the EU Accession Process: Between Political Conditionality and Legal Complexity”.
The exchange continued with a visit by Prof. Dr Stephen Levett to the University of Belgrade Faculty of Law. He delivered guest lectures for students of the Environmental Law Clinic and participants in the E-L-C Hub. He also met representatives of institutions involved in the students’ practical training, including the OSCE Mission to Serbia, the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection, and the Protector of Citizens. The discussions also considered opportunities for further joint teaching and research activities.
During the 2025/2026 academic year, three fourth-year students of the University of Belgrade Faculty of Law completed ten-day study visits to the University of York in February and April 2026. They participated in the work of the Sustainability Clinic, its practical projects and regular Law School teaching. Together with students in York, they worked on assignments involving the analysis of sustainability strategies and specific challenges presented by Clinic partners, including West Yorkshire Police and York Minster. Cooperation on the projects continued after the students returned to Belgrade.
The study visits also included participation in PBL teaching, presentation of the work of the Environmental Law Clinic in Belgrade, and research into the legal framework for a planned solar-energy project near York. The visits were implemented with the support of the Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights – YUCOM. This made the Environmental Law Clinic the legal clinic at the Faculty to incorporate an opportunity for international clinical experience into its teaching programme.
The experience acquired through the cooperation is being used to further develop practical teaching, scenario-based problems and case studies, and to plan new joint activities between the Environmental Law Clinic and the University of York Sustainability Clinic.
