Four Saint Mary's students were selected for the Hague Summer School in International Justice
Selected alongside students from leading universities in Canada and the United States, four Saint Mary's Political Science students spent July learning international justice from diplomats, war crimes investigators and peace negotiators.
The inaugural Hague Summer School in International Justice had 28 seats for students from around the world. Four of them came from Saint Mary's.
In July, Kate Dobbins, Liam Ferguson, Cydney Carruthers and Meagan Dunn were inside the Peace Palace, where the International Court of Justice hears legal disputes between nations. For the twelve days that followed, the group was taught inside the institutions it had read about in Halifax.
The summer school, which ran July 13-24, was organized by Release Peace, a non-governmental organization based in The Hague that works on peace, security and human rights. Students applied from around the world and were selected through a competitive process.
Outside the Peace Palace in The Hague, home of the International Court of Justice
The students stood at the gates of the Peace Palace, home of the International Court of Justice, where legal disputes between countries are heard. They walked through the doors of the International Criminal Court, where individuals are prosecuted for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. They visited Eurojust, the European Union's agency for criminal justice cooperation, and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, winner of the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize. They sat down with the ambassadors of Estonia and Ecuador for briefings at their embassies.
“Many of the sessions practically intersected with courses I've taken at SMU, which helped me stay engaged,” said Cydney Carruthers. “I especially enjoyed getting to meet students from around the world studying politics. It was incredible to hear their varying opinions and ideas, especially students from countries the sessions were about–like Ukraine and Syria. I think I might like to get my Law degree in The Hague now.”
The Hague: an international city of peace and justice
Between site visits, the students took part in practice-oriented workshops led by human rights and criminal investigation practitioners who have worked in conflict zones including Afghanistan, Ukraine and Sudan. These people have on-the-ground experience, and their day jobs involve documenting abuses and building cases in some of the most challenging places on earth.
“Attending the inaugural Hague Summer School was an excellent opportunity to engage with international actors and organizations. Visiting the ICC, ICJ, and meeting multiple ambassadors was a deeply rewarding experience. I strongly recommend the program to anyone who is interested in international relations and global politics.”
- Liam Ferguson, Saint Mary’s Political Science student
“It was a great experience,” said Kate Dobbins. “I found it informative and engaging, particularly on the days we had in-person speakers, especially those with hands-on experience in conflict zones. The opportunity to connect with individuals from the International Criminal Court (ICC), the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and embassies gave me a strong understanding of NGO operations alongside traditional government roles in The Hague. As the hub for international law, The Hague provided access to many of the individuals that we met and spoke with, which would have been limited in other locations. I would highly recommend the Hague Summer School to future students and those interested in pursuing careers in international fields.”
Since 2024, the Department of Political Science and Global Development Studies at Saint Mary’s University has partnered with Release Peace to give students editorial opportunities: the chance to research and write on international affairs for a readership that works inside the United Nations, the European Union and the NGO sector.
Founded in 2019, the organization works on conflict prevention and arms control and counts universities such as Columbia and Johns Hopkins among its partners. That working relationship is why Saint Mary's students were on the list when Release Peace selected participants for its first summer school.
Summer school students met with the Ambassador of Ecuador
“Our students were selected to participate with a small group of students from top schools in the USA and Canada to receive a hands-on experience in the realm of international justice,” says Dr. Lyubov Zhyznomirska, Chair of the Department of Political Science and Global Development Studies.
The university backed the opportunity with some of the students receiving financial support from the Office of the Dean of Arts and the university's international office.
A degree in political science or criminology at Saint Mary's is not an abstract exercise. Faculty members in Halifax maintain working relationships with global organizations, and those relationships open doors for students.
It is also a reminder of the range of a Faculty of Arts education. Meagan Dunn is studying both political science and criminology. Her three classmates came from political science. Between them, they left The Hague with a working understanding of how international courts, European justice cooperation, arms-control bodies, and embassies actually function, and with a clearer picture of where their degrees might take them.
"I was first introduced to the studies of international relations through political science classes and then international law in both political science and criminology," says Meagan. “The Hague Summer School allowed me to use and continue to build on the knowledge I learned at SMU and bring it to a new environment. I was introduced to countless opportunities that I had never considered, like the ability to intern at NGO’s and the many different institutions in The Hague. It was a great time, and I met so many incredible people. It never would have happened had I not been presented with the opportunity by SMU."