World Trade Institute
Encyclopedia
The World Trade Institute (WTI) is a center of advanced studies of the University of Bern. It is located in Berne
, Switzerland
and directed by Professor Thomas Cottier. The institute was founded in 1999 by the Universities of Bern, Fribourg
and Neuchâtel
within the framework of the BeNeFri convention, which calls for closer cooperation between the three universities of the Swiss Mittelland
. Dedicated to capacity building and raising global awareness of international economic law and economics, the institute maintains close ties to the Institute of European and International Economic Law (IEW) at the University of Bern.
The WTI provides graduate studies and a forum for interdisciplinary research and teaching in international trade law and economics. Fostering interaction between students and professionals, the Institute allows researchers and practitioners to establish networks and pool expertise. The WTI offers a graduate master's programme in international trade law and economics (MILE), an annual summer academy, WTO
accession
training, an executive education programme, and tailor-made courses in trade regulation and economics. In 2005 the WTI became the leading research center for the Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research - NCCR Trade Regulation
- which is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. The WTI also hosts an annual World Trade Forum conference where interdisciplinary speakers and scholars from the fields of law, economy, political science and international relations discuss contemporary topics of the world trading system. Papers, comments and conclusions from these conferences are published in the World Trade Forum Book Series by Cambridge University Press
.
and allows students to pursue in-depth studies with a strong applied perspective on international trade regulation. The MILE is a programme of advanced studies in the field of international trade regulation and WTO Law and maintains close ties to research carried out within the NCCR Trade Regulation. In addition to the resident faculty, the MILE Programme invites leading practitioners and experts from law firms, international organisations, policy research institutes and top universities to lecture and train students.
The MILE student body is both multidisciplinary and multinational in character, with the annual intake of 35 to 40 students typically representing over 25 countries. Many MILE students have prior training or professional experience in the field of international trade. The programme is an intensive academic year of interdisciplinary learning with emphasis on the acquisition of practical skills in trade diplomacy and policy analysis.
E-learning and training allows students to access the expertise, information and knowledge available at the World Trade Institute without spending study time abroad. Flexible interaction with experts, tutors, WTI academic staff and other participants via the internet allows participants to efficiently maximise study time.
The Distance Learning Programme aims to provide knowledge of the contemporary legal framework governing the world trading system and is designed for public and private sector professionals, academics, civil society leaders as well as interested students who wish to broaden their knowledge base in the field of trade regulation.
External links =
Berne
The city of Bern or Berne is the Bundesstadt of Switzerland, and, with a population of , the fourth most populous city in Switzerland. The Bern agglomeration, which includes 43 municipalities, has a population of 349,000. The metropolitan area had a population of 660,000 in 2000...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and directed by Professor Thomas Cottier. The institute was founded in 1999 by the Universities of Bern, Fribourg
University of Fribourg
The University of Fribourg is a university in the city of Fribourg, Switzerland.The roots of the University can be traced back to 1582, when the notable Jesuit Peter Canisius founded the Collège Saint-Michel in the City of Fribourg. In 1763, an Academy of law was founded by the state of Frobourg...
and Neuchâtel
University of Neuchâtel
The University of Neuchâtel is a French-speaking university in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. The University has five faculties and more than a dozen institutes, including arts and human sciences, natural sciences, law, economics and theology. The Faculty of Arts and Human Sciences is the largest...
within the framework of the BeNeFri convention, which calls for closer cooperation between the three universities of the Swiss Mittelland
Swiss plateau
The Swiss Plateau or Central Plateau constitutes one of the three major landscapes in Switzerland alongside the Jura mountains and the Swiss Alps. It covers about 30% of the Swiss surface...
. Dedicated to capacity building and raising global awareness of international economic law and economics, the institute maintains close ties to the Institute of European and International Economic Law (IEW) at the University of Bern.
The WTI provides graduate studies and a forum for interdisciplinary research and teaching in international trade law and economics. Fostering interaction between students and professionals, the Institute allows researchers and practitioners to establish networks and pool expertise. The WTI offers a graduate master's programme in international trade law and economics (MILE), an annual summer academy, WTO
World Trade Organization
The World Trade Organization is an organization that intends to supervise and liberalize international trade. The organization officially commenced on January 1, 1995 under the Marrakech Agreement, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade , which commenced in 1948...
accession
WTO accession and membership
All World Trade Organization members have joined the organization as a result of negotiation, and membership consists of a balance of rights and obligations. The process of becoming a World Trade Organization member is unique to each applicant country, and the terms of accession are dependent upon...
training, an executive education programme, and tailor-made courses in trade regulation and economics. In 2005 the WTI became the leading research center for the Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research - NCCR Trade Regulation
NCCR Trade Regulation
NCCR Trade Regulation is a research project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. It comprises 12 trade-related IP topics, seeks to aid regulators in promoting coherence within a fragmented system of international trade regulations, and is directed by Professor Thomas Cottier, of the...
- which is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. The WTI also hosts an annual World Trade Forum conference where interdisciplinary speakers and scholars from the fields of law, economy, political science and international relations discuss contemporary topics of the world trading system. Papers, comments and conclusions from these conferences are published in the World Trade Forum Book Series by Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by Henry VIII in 1534, it is the world's oldest publishing house, and the second largest university press in the world...
.
Master programme
The Master of International Law and Economics (MILE) is the flagship programme of the WTI, established in 1999. The programme combines perspectives in law, economics and international political economyInternational political economy
International political economy , also known as global political economy, is an academic discipline within the social sciences that analyzes international relations in combination with political economy. As an interdisciplinary field it draws on many distinct academic schools, most notably ...
and allows students to pursue in-depth studies with a strong applied perspective on international trade regulation. The MILE is a programme of advanced studies in the field of international trade regulation and WTO Law and maintains close ties to research carried out within the NCCR Trade Regulation. In addition to the resident faculty, the MILE Programme invites leading practitioners and experts from law firms, international organisations, policy research institutes and top universities to lecture and train students.
The MILE student body is both multidisciplinary and multinational in character, with the annual intake of 35 to 40 students typically representing over 25 countries. Many MILE students have prior training or professional experience in the field of international trade. The programme is an intensive academic year of interdisciplinary learning with emphasis on the acquisition of practical skills in trade diplomacy and policy analysis.
Summer Academy
The WTI’s Summer Academy addresses issues of trade regulation to professionals, NGO and government officials, scholars and students. Each year the programme covers topics in the field of international trade by providing lectures, tutorials, practical exercises or simulations lead by academics and practitioners, the majority of whom are drawn from the ranks of the MILE faculty. Students take part in a multicultural, interdisciplinary environment and establish contacts with professionals from all over the world. The programme’s field trip to Geneva and other extracurricular activities are integral to the Summer Academy.Distance Learning Programme
The WTI offers a Distance Learning Programme providing activities aimed at bridging the knowledge gap and redressing existing negotiation asymmetries between developed and developing countries.E-learning and training allows students to access the expertise, information and knowledge available at the World Trade Institute without spending study time abroad. Flexible interaction with experts, tutors, WTI academic staff and other participants via the internet allows participants to efficiently maximise study time.
The Distance Learning Programme aims to provide knowledge of the contemporary legal framework governing the world trading system and is designed for public and private sector professionals, academics, civil society leaders as well as interested students who wish to broaden their knowledge base in the field of trade regulation.
Tailor-made courses
The WTI has delivered tailor-made courses on subjects as diverse as trade and agriculture, contingency protection, trade in financial services, investment rule-making, WTO dispute settlement and many other topics falling within the broader perimeter of trade rule-making.External links =