HELP’s mandate stems from the Recommendation 2004(4) of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on the European Convention on Human Rights in university education and professional training. It was reinforced with the Committee of Ministers’ Recommendation (2019)5 on the system of the European Convention on Human Rights in university education and professional training.

 

According to this Council of Europe Recommendation, member states are recommended, among other things, to:

 

  • ensure university education on the system of the European Convention on Human Rights in line with the needs and expectations of the different categories of the public,
  • enhance the effectiveness of such university education and professional training by ensuring that each category of the public has access to the necessary tools to comply with the obligations stemming from the Convention.

Universities and, in particular, law schools are therefore part of the core mandate of the HELP Programme. Therefore, university students (with a focus on law students) are a natural target audience for HELP’s online courses.

HELP courses can easily and efficiently supplement the educational materials in the law schools’ core curricula. They are increasingly being used by university professors to complement their academic programmes.

 

 Which HELP courses fit best for students?

The diversity of the HELP courses enables their use in universities depending on the level of knowledge or topical interest of the students.

For example, Bachelor students can take more basic HELP courses, such as the course on Introduction to the ECHR and the ECtHR. The more specialised courses (e.g. Data Protection and Privacy Rights, Violence Against Women, Human Rights in Sports , and others) can be offered to more advanced students, including Master and PhD students.

 

 Teachers can benefit from HELP in several ways

  • Encourage self-study: motivate students to follow HELP online courses individually. Students who complete a course receive a statement of accomplishment, which they can present as part of their academic record
  • Integrate HELP into teaching: use a HELP course to complement or enrich your subject
  • Set up a virtual classroom: request a dedicated virtual ‘classroom’ on the HELP platform for your group of students
  • HELP courses can be embedded on your academic platform: if your university has its own e-learning system, HELP courses can be transferred directly there
  • Explore innovative formats: ad-hoc arrangements are possible, including cross-border or cross-professional groups.

 

 Work with universities is further supported through the Open Council of Europe Academic Networks (OCEAN) which brings together universities, research institutions and scholars across the 46 member states of the Council of Europe.

What OCEAN does:

  • Creates a platform connecting universities, researchers, and academics
  • Promotes teaching, research, and academic activities linked to more than 200 Council of Europe conventions
  • Shares best practices and research across Europe
  • Connects academics with Council of Europe experts
  • Offers opportunities to participate in events in Strasbourg, across member countries, and online.