Innovation award for international law course

World class: International law's Salim Nakhjavani delivering an international law lecture

The Department of Public Law's international law course is the second of two winning entries in the inaugural Teaching with Sakai Innovation Award, sponsored by IBM.

Sakai is the open source software platform which powers Vula, UCT's online learning environment. The Sakai community, which includes over 100 universities world-wide, established the award to showcase uses of Sakai that "transform the learning experience by combining excellent teaching practices with innovative solutions".

UCT's international law course was chosen from 25 entries and four finalists, mainly from Europe and North America. It was the only African entry.

First place went to Dr Aileen Huang-Saad of the Department of Biomechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan.

"Both of us will have the opportunity to travel to Paris this July to present papers at the 9th Sakai Conference at the Université Pierre et Marie Curie," said international law lecturer Salim Nakhjavani.

The judges had considerable praise for Nakhjavani's course: "Elsner was impressed with the obvious 'impact on the larger African community'. Bain noted that it provided a 'robust learning environment by engaging students in the process of international law'."

Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Martin West was delighted. "Brilliant - my congratulations to those involved '“ an extraordinary achievement!"

Nakhjavani praised the international law teaching team of Cathy Powell, Jewel Amoah, Chris Oxtoby and law student Shihaam Donnelly. The development of the International Law site on Vula was supported by a Teaching with Technology Grant from the Centre for Educational Technology.