Between 18 and 22 August 2025, the Durham International Dispute Resolution Institute (DIDRI) proudly hosted the Durham Summer Programme on International Arbitration, welcoming more than 60 students from eight countries and regions. Participants came from many of the world’s leading institutions, including Renmin University of China, Tongji University, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Penn State University, and Chuo University, among others.
The Programme brought together a distinguished line-up of leading scholars, practitioners, and judge, featuring Professor Lei Chen, Dr Ylli Dautaj, Dr Can Eken, Dr John Fellas, Professor Geneviève Helleringer, Professor Kaj Hobér, Mr Samuel Pape, and Justice Anselmo Reyes. Their expertise ensured that students were exposed to the latest developments and debates in both International Commercial Arbitration and Investment Treaty Arbitration, alongside a rigorous introduction to common law contract law.
One of the unique features of the Programme was its emphasis on practical skills training. Participants engaged in a moot simulation, applying what they had learned in a realistic arbitration setting and receiving direct feedback from experienced practitioners and judges.
This year’s turnout marks the second occasion on which DIDRI has surpassed the 50-participant milestone, reinforcing its position as the leading hub for arbitration training in the UK. The strong turnout and global reach of the 2025 Summer Programme reaffirm DIDRI’s role as a bridge between academia and practice in international arbitration.
(Durham Summer Programme on International Arbitration 2025 Group Photo)
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