USFSP UT Comparative Legal Research Project: The Research Posters

Here are the research posters from the eight groups:

USFSP - UT Student Collaboration Outside of Class

There are so many ways that the students can communicate with each other outside of class (and around the globe).  They can organize group texts, group chats, share files.  It really is extraordinary.

Of course, this international project was always going to be "virtual" -- so the partnership was able to proceed and to succeed -- despite the global pandemic. 

Modifications were made (e.g., the paper length was reduced and there was no longer an expectation that students would read and reference books in their citations (since the library was closed and we were under stay at home orders), but students could access sufficient law review and journal articles through our online databases - along with the primary source materials of court decisions,briefs, oral argument transcripts.  They were still able to work together on substantial research papers and posters.


My hope is that they got to know each other, as they were learning more about UT, about North Macedonia and, of course, about the topic of the research project.  When I have run similar projects in the past, I have found that students get connected on facebook or other social media and that many of the students stay in touch with their research partners after the semester ends. May the USFSP - UT student connections be long lasting.

I asked my students to share some pictures of them working together with their partners in North Macedonia. Here are a few:

University of Tetovo -- Offical Facebook Page post about our USFSP-UT Research Cooperation

Universiteti i Tetovës dhe Universiteti i Floridës Jugore nga Shtetet e Bashkuara të Amerikës e realizuan Konferencën finale të projektit të përbashkët hulumtues
Edhe pse në kushte të pandemisë, Universiteti i Tetovës e vazhdon bashkëpunimin e suksesshëm me universitetet nga Shtetet e Bashkuara të Amerikës. Kësaj radhe, përmes komunikimit online, studentët e Fakultetit Juridik të Universitetit të Tetovës dhe studentët nga Universiteti i Floridës Jugore Shën Petersburg, arritën ta përmbyllin me sukses Projektin e përbashkët hulumtues, me temë: “Projekt krahasues i përbashkët i kërkimeve juridike: Liritë civile në SHBA dhe në Evropë: Një krahasim i çështjeve të vendosura nga SCOTUS dhe ECtHR, Pranverë 2020”.
Projekti u realizua përmes komunikimit online dhe u realizuan disa video konferenca mes studentëve dhe profesorëve nga të dy universitetet.

Më 29. 4. 2020 u realizua Konferenca finale (online), në të cilën studentët pjesëmarrës i prezantuan rezultatet e hulumtimit në mënyrë të shkëlqyer. Në punimet e konferencës finale morën pjesë edhe prorektori për bashkëpunim ndërkombëtar i Universitetit të Tetovës, Doc. Dr. Shefik Shehu, dekani i Fakultetit Juridik, Prof. Dr. Qebir Avziu dhe profesori Dritan Kuçi. Gjithashtu, nga Universiteti i Floridës Jugore Shën Petersburg, morën pjesë: nënkryetarja për Çështje Akademike Katerina Cardwell, drejtori për Angazhime Globale Wendy Baker; rektori Martin Tadlock, si dhe drejtori i Kërkimeve Jon Jonson.
Prorektori për bashkëpunim ndërkombëtar i Universitetit të Tetovës, Doc. Dr. Shefik Shehu e elaboroi rëndësinë e projektit hulumtues, e falënderoi Profesoreshën Judithanne dhe përfaqësuesit e Universitetit të Floridës Jugore Shën Petersburg për bashkëpunimin frytdhënës, duke premtuar mbështetje dhe vazhdimësi në bashkëpunimin e mëtejshëm. Njëkohësisht, ai i inkurajoi studentët nga të dy universitet për të qenë sa më aktiv në projekte të tilla hulumtuese ndërkombëtare.
Po ashtu shprehu falënderime dhe mirënjohje për studentët e Fakultetit Juridik të Universiteti të Tetovës, Vjollca Emini, Artin Hasipi, Selma Ademi, Veton Jakupi, Nedreta Jusufi, Artina Mustafi, Devi Mukja dhe Diellza Selimi, për pjesëmarrjen e tyre në këtë projekt.
Zyra për Informim

Tetovo University and South Florida University from the United States of America completed the final conference of the joint research project
Although in conditions of pandemisë, tetovo university continues successful cooperation with universities from the United States of America. This time, through online communication, students of the faculty of law of tetovo university and students from the university of South Florida, managed to successfully complete the joint research project, with the theme: " Joint Review of legal research: Civil Liberties in USA and Europe: a comparison of the issues raised by scotus and ecthr, Spring 2020 ".
The project was carried out through online communication and some video conferences were held between students and professors from both universities.

On 29. 4. 2020 the final conference (online) was held, in which participating students introduced the results of research perfectly. The Director For International Co-operation of tetovo university, doctor took part in the works of the final conference. Dr. Sefik Shehu, the Dean of the faculty of law, Prof. Dr. Qebir Avziu and professor dritan kuci. Also, from the university of South Florida, took part: Deputy Director for academic issues Katerina Cardwell, director for global commitments Wendy Bakery; Rector Martin Tadlock, as well as director of our research director.
Rector for international cooperation of tetovo university, doctor. Dr. Sefik Shehu Elaboroi the importance of the research project, thanked professor judithanne and representatives of South Florida University of South Florida for cooperation, promising support and continuation in further co-operation. At the same time, he encourage students from both university to be as active in such international research projects.
He also expressed thanks and gratitude to students of the faculty of law of tetovo, vjollca emini, hasipi art, Selma Ademi, veton jakupi, nedreta jusufi, devi mustafi, devi mukja and diellza selimi for their participation in this project.
Information Office

https://www.facebook.com/Universiteti-i-Tetov%C3%ABs-UT-338685373241583/

International Research Symposium: USFSP - UT Comparative Legal Research Project

Today was the big day! Our International Research Symposium.

The 8 groups presented their research posters -- each of the students in each group presented his/her research.  All of the posters and abstracts will be shared in a separate post.

Here, I wanted to share with you a few pictures of our International Research Symposium

From the University of South Florida St. Petersburg,we were joined by

the Chancellor Martin Tadlock, Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Catherine Cardwell, Director of Research Jon Johnson, and Director of Global Engagement Wendy Baker 

and from the University of Tetova,we were joined by


Vice Rector for International Relations Shefik Sheu, Dean of the Law Faculty Qebir Avziu. and Professor Driton Kuci

 And we were also joined by Liridona Kuçi - Municipal coordinator of Local Youth Council, Tetovo and Olti Esati - President of Youth Council

Thank you so much for supporting the students' research cooperation!

Elsewhere on this blog, the abstracts and the pictures of each of the eight posters are posted.  Below are a few pictures of our Symposium on the day. We used Blackboard Collaborate Ultra for this live joint session. Students were able to share their powerpoint presentations using this platform:

Faculty Leaders Prof. Judithanne McLauchlan and Prof. Jusuf Zejneli

 

Chancellor Tadlock congratulates the students on their research cooperation

Prof Driton Kuci, Dean Qebir Avziiu and Prof Judithanne McLauchlan

the Group 1 Poster, Reproductive Rights in the US and in Europe

Vice Rector Shefik Shehu

For more about the Youth Council, see https://www.facebook.com/youthcouncilTetovo

The Local Youth Council of Tetovo posted about the USFSP - UT International Research Symposium

Thanks to the Youth Council of Tetovo for joining our International Research Symposium!

We appreciated hearing from Liridona Kuçi - Municipal coordinator of Local Youth Council, Tetovo as well as from Olti Esati - President of Youth Council - Tetovo 

Here is the Youth Council's facebook post and pictures from our symposium:

Të nderuar të ishim pjesëmarrës në konferencën online organizuar nga Fakulteti Juridik, Universiteti Tetovës dhe University of South Florida St. Petersburg USA.
Në kuadër të lëndës "E drejta kushtetuese krahasuese", prof.dr. Jusuf Zejneli dhe prof.dr.Judithanne Scourfield McLauchlan, realizuan projekt hulumtues me studentët të cilëve ju ligjërojnë, me temë: "Joint Comparative Legal Research Project, Civil Liberties in the U.S. and in Europe, A comparison of Cases decided by the SCOTUS and the ECtHR Spring 2020.
Studentët arritën me profesionalizëm të prezantojnë studimet përkatëse.
Ne konferencë mori pjesë edhe prorektori për marrëdhenie ndërkombëtare UT Doc.dr.Shefik Sheku dhe Dekani Fakultetit Juridik, prof.dr.Qebir Avziu, poashtu dhe mysafir profesor Driton Kuçi.
Përfaqësues të Këshillit Rinor Lokal, Tetovë ishin kryetari Olti Esati dhe koordinatorja komunale, Liridona Kuçi të cilëve ju dha fjala përshëndetëse. Këto njohuri do të shpërndahen në disa puntori që do organizohen sapo të na lejojnë kushtet.

Имавме чест да учествуваме на онлајн конференцијата организирана од Правниот факултет, Универзитет во Тетово и Универзитетот во Јужна Флорида Св. Петербург САД.
Во рамките на предметот „Компаративен уставен закон“, проф.др. Јусуф Зејнели и проф. Д-р Judудихан Скорфилд МекЛаучлан, спроведоа истражувачки проект со студенти кои предаваа на тема: „Заеднички проект за компаративно правно истражување, граѓански слободи во САД и во Европа, Споредба на случаи што ги одлучуваат СКОТУС и ЕСЧП пролет 2020 година.
Студентите успеаја да ги презентираат релевантните студии со професионализам.
На конференцијата присуствуваа и заменик-ректорот за меѓународни односи УТ доктор д-р Шефик Шеку и деканот на Правниот факултет, проф.д-р Кебир Авзиу, како и гостинот професор Дритон Кучи.
Претставници на Локалниот младински совет, Тетово беа претседателот Олти Есати и општинскиот координатор, Лиридона Кучи, на кого беше поздравен говор. Ова знаење ќе биде дистрибуирано до некои работници кои ќе бидат организирани веднаш штом ќе дозволат условите.
 
For more about the Youth Council of Tetovo, see https://www.facebook.com/youthcouncilTetovo

 

USFSP UT International Research Cooperation: Comparing and Contrasting Decisions of the European Court of Human Rights and the Supreme Court of the United States

Our USFSP and UT students were working together in groups on comparative legal research projects, comparing and contrasting decisions of the ECtHR and SCOTUS on similar legal questions.

The 8 posters/groups topics were as follows:

Group 1:  Reproductive Rights in the US and in Ireland (Roe v. Wade (1073) and ABC v Ireland (2010)

Group 2: Freedom of Expression in Wartime

Group 3: Freedom of Association

Group 4: What is Torture? (Rasul v. Rumsfeld and Ireland v. UK)

Group 5: The Death Penalty:  Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Group 6: Rights of the Disabled in State Care

Group 7:  The Right to Marry in the US and in the COE

Group 8: Right to a Fair Trial

Professor Jusuf Zejneli discusses our International Research Cooperation USFSP - UT on Makedonska Radio Televizija

Our research partner, Professor Jusuf Zejneli sat down with Semra Ajeti of  Macedonian Radio Television  to discuss the move to online learning.  

In the interview he discusses our joint research project, engaging students at the University of South Florida and the University of Tetovo. 

You can watch the interview here: 


http://al.play.mrt.com.mk/play/39896?fbclid=IwAR2Qd1fFjunNslMgl2USKE4GlT37g57wtxg2zOo1xEcxgi2jCTbWu5xaZus

April 22 at 4:56 AM · Skopje, Republic of Macedonia

-Aspekti juridik kushtetues i gjendjes së jashtzakonshme, funksionimi i institucioneve, mësimi online, sfidat, përparësitë, jeta në vetizolim, krijimtaria shkencore!

Live:
- the constitutional legal aspect of the state of emergency, the operation of institutions, online learning, challenges, priorities, life in vetizolim, scientific creativity!

Our 2nd Joint USFSP UT Videoconference -- via BBCU

By the time of our mid-point check-in, we were all distance learning from the safety of our homes.  Instead of trying to join by skype in our classroom, this time we were using the Blackboard Collaborate Ultra platform in our LMS Canvass.

BBCU allows us to invite guests to participate -- so the faculty and students at UT can join us even though they are not enrolled in our course.

Actually - this worked out MUCH better than our videoconference in our face-to-face classroom (where each student needed to approach my laptop in order to use the microphone).  And we did not have the technology/connectivity issues as we had in the classroom -- getting the video and sound to work.  This is another area where I may re-think the platform and technology that I use for these kind of "global classroom" projects. 

The BBCU worked perfectly -- each participant with her own video and microphone.

 

 

Virtual Office Hours to Discuss USFSP - UT Group Posters

Our Chancellor had asked for us to be thinking about "lessons learned" during this pandemic -- and things that we are doing now that we might want to bring with us once this crisis has passed.

I have to say that these "virtual office hours" using Blackboard Collaborate Ultra, through our LMS Canvass, is one thing I plan to keep using -- especially for group projects.

BBCU let all 4 students in the group join in together -- even though not all of the students were on the same continent.

By adding the students as "presenters," they were able to upload their poster PPT into our group session for us to discuss.

Very much looking forward to our international videoconference tomorrow!  We will be using the BBCU platform for our symposium as well.  (Up to 250 participants can join in a BBCU session.)