Sustainable international ocean governance
Aix-Marseille University
Reference Teacher: Sophie Gambardella & Pascale Ricard (AMU)
Teacher(s): Sophie Gambardella, CNRS research fellow in law, UMR DICE 7318, AMU. Pascale Ricard, CNRS research fellow in law, UMR DICE 7318, AMU. Loïc Roulette, Senior Lecturer in Law, CDE, AMU. Séverine Martini, CNRS Research Fellow in Oceanography, UMR MIO, AMU. Hugo Vermeren, CNRS Research Fellow in History, UMR 7303 TELEMMe, AMU. Christophe Lejeusne, Associate Professor of Ecology, IMBE, AMU. François Sabatier, Senior Lecturer in Geography, CEREGE, AMU. Chie Kojima, Professor of International Law, Faculty of Law, Chuo University, Tokyo. Anne Cadoret, Senior Lecturer in Geography and Regional Planning, TELEMME, AMU.
The course in Sustainable International Ocean Governance is a Postgraduate University Diploma, embedded within a dynamic network of research actors engaged in ocean-related issues at Aix-Marseille University.The programme benefits from the strong scientific environment provided by the Aix-Marseille University Institute of Ocean Sciences, which supports both the development and implementation of the degree and reflects the vitality of ocean-related research across disciplines at the Aix-Marseille site.Within the Faculty of Law and Political Science, significant expertise also exists in the field of maritime law. The research unit UMR DICE, and particularly the CERIC team, leads several research projects on the governance of seas and oceans, funded at both regional and national levels. Most lecturers involved in the course are recognised researchers or faculty members specialising in ocean governance. Their involvement ensures a strong connection between teaching and ongoing research, allowing students to engage with current scientific debates and recent research findings.The objective of the course is to provide students with specialised knowledge and analytical tools related to ocean governance. The programme is designed both to facilitate the professional integration of students in initial training and to strengthen the expertise of professionals already working in this field.
The programme offers an interdisciplinary approach to international ocean governance, combining maritime law, public environmental policy, and analysis of the socio-ecological issues related to the exploitation and conservation of marine areas. It covers the fundamental principles of international maritime law as well as the related international and European litigation frameworks. Particular attention is devoted to the sustainable exploitation of marine resources, including mineral, biological, and genetic resources, as well as to major ocean conservation challenges such as marine pollution, coastal erosion, invasive species, and the development of marine protected areas. The program also addresses emerging challenges in international ocean governance and promotes an interdisciplinary perspective through applied projects and interactions with socio-economic actors. Teaching combines theoretical lectures with case studies, collaborative projects, and discussions with experts from both academic and professional environments.
A course structured for master, PhD students, but also professionals for life-long training and capacity building. The course is aimed at students in initial training who wish to specialize in ocean-related issues in order to enter the workforce in this field; and professionals in continuing education who wish to strengthen their skills in this field.
Students will acquire highly specialized knowledge in the field of international ocean governance. They will develop an in-depth understanding of international maritime law and of the legal mechanisms operating at both European and international levels. The program also provides a comprehensive understanding of the environmental, economic, and political issues related to the sustainable management of marine environments. More broadly, students will gain an interdisciplinary perspective on the interactions between marine resource exploitation, environmental protection, and the broader dynamics of global governance.
Students will acquire highly specialized knowledge in the field of international ocean governance. They will develop an in-depth understanding of international maritime law and of the legal mechanisms operating at both European and international levels. The program also provides a comprehensive understanding of the environmental, economic, and political issues related to the sustainable management of marine environments. More broadly, students will gain an interdisciplinary perspective on the interactions between marine resource exploitation, environmental protection, and the broader dynamics of global governance.
Students will strengthen their ability to critically analyse ocean governance policies and the legal instruments that structure them. They will be trained to assess the implications and potential impacts of public decisions related to the exploitation and protection of marine resources. The programme encourages the development of analytical reasoning skills, enabling students to formulate well-founded analyses and propose informed recommendations in a complex and constantly evolving international context.
The programme develops students’ ability to communicate complex information clearly and effectively. Students will learn to produce analytical documents, policy briefs and expert reports tailored to different audiences. They will also develop their ability to present and defend analyses or expert assessments orally to specialist and non-specialist audiences. Particular attention is paid to the ability to participate in professional and scientific discussions in international and interdisciplinary contexts.
The programme aims to develop students’ ability to learn independently in a rapidly evolving field. It develops research skills and the ability to keep up with scientific and legal developments related to ocean governance. Students are also encouraged to work collaboratively within professional networks and to operate effectively in interdisciplinary and international contexts.
The admission requirements are as follows:
– initial training: four or five years of higher education
– continuing education: after review of their application, professionals with at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent and relevant professional experience may be admitted to enroll.
Lectures Face-to-face
Students are assessed through three main evaluations designed to measure both knowledge and practical competencies: a written assessment, an oral examination (“grand oral”), and a legal clinic project. The legal clinic consists of a case study in which students work in a simulated professional context to develop solutions for a real issue submitted by a public or private stakeholder.
The programme aims to enable students to acquire specialised knowledge as well as analytical and operational skills in the field of international ocean governance. It aims to provide students with a solid understanding of the legal and institutional frameworks governing marine areas, while developing their ability to analyse contemporary issues related to sustainable exploitation and conservation of the oceans. Through this training, students should be able to apply this knowledge in a variety of professional contexts, including public administrations, international organisations, non-governmental organisations and research environments.
https://dice.univ-amu.fr/fr/node/237
http://dice.univ-amu.fr/dice/ceric
The expected learning outcomes can contribute to the achievements of the following goals: Goal 14: Life below water, Goal 13: Climate Action, and Goal 4: Quality Education
Administrative reference : Gaëlle DUPRÉ : gaelle.dupre[@]univ-amu.fr
Applications on Ecandidat from September to December: https://candidatures.univ-amu.fr/candidatures/#!accueilView
- International and European Law of the Sea (8h)
- International and European Maritime Litigation (8h)
This module introduces the fundamental legal frameworks governing the seas and oceans at both international and European levels. It provides students with the key concepts, principles, and institutions shaping the law of the sea, as well as an overview of dispute settlement mechanisms and litigation relating to maritime issues.
Participants will be able to understand and analyse the main legal principles, institutions, and dispute-settlement mechanisms governing the international and European law of the sea. The module consists of one introductory session and five lectures.
- Exploitation of Marine Mineral Resources (10h)
- Exploitation of Marine Biological Resources (8h)
- Exploitation of Marine Genetic Resources (8h)
By the end of this module, participants will be able to understand and critically assess the legal, environmental, and governance challenges related to the sustainable exploitation of marine resources. The module consists of 8 lectures.
- Coastal Erosion (8h)
- Invasive Alien Species (7h)
- Ocean Pollution (4h)
- Ecological Compensation (2h)
- Small Island States and the Law of the Sea: Challenges and Perspectives (4h)
By the end of this module, participants will be able to analyse key environmental challenges affecting marine ecosystems and evaluate the legal and governance responses developed to address them. The module consists of three lectures, four professional guest interventions, and one seminar.
- Ocean Pollution (12h)
- Marine Protected Areas (14h)
This module examines the development and implementation of marine conservation policies, with a particular focus on marine protected areas (MPAs). It explores the emergence of MPAs within international environmental governance, their legal and institutional frameworks, and the socio-ecological conflicts and policy challenges associated with their establishment and management.
By the end of this module, participants will be able to understand the legal, institutional, and policy frameworks governing marine protected areas, identify and analyse the different forms of marine pollution and the responses developed to address them, and critically assess the effectiveness and limitations of existing or proposed marine conservation strategies.
The module consists of expert lectures by legal scholars and professionals working in marine protected areas, three conferences, and one serious-game session. The teaching aims to contextualise marine conservation policies from both legal and geographical perspectives.
- Environmental Law Clinic (20h)
- Summer School of the Institute of Ocean Sciences (30h)
This module provides students with an interdisciplinary and practice-oriented experience in ocean governance. Through participation in an environmental law clinic and an international summer school organised by the Institute of Ocean Sciences, students engage with real-world governance challenges and interact with researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders working on ocean sustainability.
By the end of this module, participants will be able to apply interdisciplinary knowledge and collaborative approaches to analyse complex ocean governance issues and develop informed responses to contemporary marine sustainability challenges.
The module consists of a practical legal clinic and an international summer school including lectures, workshops, and discussions with experts.
Texts and reference bibliography for the course