We are talking to Josep Maria Vilajosana and Josep Capdeferro, dean and coordinator of mobility, respectively, of the Faculty of Law at Pompeu Fabra University, on the new international projects they are preparing for the next academic year.

-What novelties will the Faculty of Law be presenting for the forthcoming 2015-2016 academic year?

Josep Maria Vilajosana (J.M.V.): In terms of mobility, there will be two major novelties. On the one hand, structured mobility will be implemented in the bachelor's degree in Law with an exciting programme we call INT-Law. On the other hand, mobility will be consolidated in double bachelor's degrees such as Law - Economics/Business Management and Administration and others, which are giving optimal results.

- So, are you looking to strengthen the transversality and internationalization of studies?

(J.M.V.): That's right. To put it in footballing terms, our graduates and double graduates are prepared to win the Premier League and at the same time go a long way in the Champions League. We are working to make the two compatible.

- Law studies are often dubbed as localistic because of their content, are they incompatible with studying abroad? What does studying abroad give the students?

(J.M.V.): The cliché that mobility is of little benefit to Law students is being overcome. Abroad, our students develop fundamental skills to be jurists of the 21 ^st century: working in international contexts, comparing different legal systems, dealing with new challenges with courage.

- You are the only Faculty of Law in the Spanish State that has an exchange agreement with Oxford University. What is your assessment of these years of collaboration? 

(J.M.V.): The agreement has matured over half a decade. At the time, Oxford University chose us after visiting and thoroughly analysing the Spanish State's six top law faculties. All of the students who have participated have been highly satisfied. We are proud to maintain and bolster this agreement, which distinguishes our Faculty. And we have heard that Oxford University also values this highly.

"Oxford University chose us after visiting and thoroughly analysing the Spanish State's six top lax faculties"

- Going into a bit more detail, why are you starting up the INT-Law programme? What does it mean for the Faculty?

Josep Capdeferro (J.C.): It's a project that has involved many areas of the University, to which we are most grateful. It means selecting in advance diligent students who will be allowed to change the order of some of the subjects in the curriculum. During the third year of the Bachelor's degree in law at Pompeu Fabra University they will only take compulsory subjects. Then they will spend the entire fourth year abroad, where they will be able to specialize in a wide variety of branches of law and polish their language skills.

- How can students be eligible for this? What will the selection process consist of?

(J.C.): Each year in May there will be a public announcement with the support of the International Relations Service. Second year law students can participate provided they have a good academic record and can accredit a knowledge of the language of the country of destination.

- Which international universities are you planning to include in the offer of structured mobility?

(J.C.): INT-Law will consist of four sub-programmes, one in English, one in French, one in German and one in Italian. All four will be taken at universities of recognized prestige in the legal field. For example, ENG-Law can be taken in Oxford, FRA-Law in Geneva, DEU-Law in Freiburg im Breisgau and ITA-Law in Siena. Other destinations will be University College Dublin in Ireland, Toulouse I-Capitole in France or Regensburg in Germany, among others.

"The students of the new INT-Dret programme will have large room for manoevre in the selection of subjects"

- What are the differential advantages of this programme compared to traditional mobility?

(J.C.): Traditional mobility, which is very positive, will remain. We will continue to take care of it as we have to date. It will continue being highly successful, especially for semestral stages. The students of the new INT-Law programme will have large room for manoeuvre in the selection of subjects, because abroad they will basically take optional subjects and few subjects that can be easily officially recognized. We trust that students will be as or more excited about this project as we are.