Scientific Delegation from Sri Lanka Visits

Not a “joint venture” designed on the drawing board, but rather an organically grown network with many ideas and plans—that is the emerging cooperation between the University of Colombo, the Open University of Sri Lanka, and the FernUniversität in Hagen. After an initial joint fact-finding mission by the University Library and the Faculty of Law to Sri Lanka last autumn, a six-member delegation from Colombo has now visited the Hagen campus. There, they met with Library Director Prof. Dr. Eric Steinhauer as well as Prof. Dr. Bernhard Kreße and Prof. Dr. Arne Pilniok from the Faculty of Law. In addition to general issues of digital transformation in higher education and information provision, key topics of discussion included current challenges in copyright, data, business, energy, and constitutional law.

It quickly became evident that a comparative perspective between Sri Lanka and Germany is worthwhile—especially regarding digital transformation processes. “When it comes to digitalization, Sri Lanka is technically at a similar level to us,” notes Eric Steinhauer, “but it encounters a very different cultural background there than in Germany.” It is by no means the case that the Global North is instructing the Global South—on the contrary: “Of course there are similar challenges and opportunities in Sri Lanka; but often people there seem to me to be more courageous and creative when it comes to digitalization, perhaps because there are fewer analogue infrastructures and fewer detail-driven regulations.” This is also true in Steinhauer’s field of expertise, library and copyright law, in which he maintains a productive exchange with Sri Lankan scholars.

A key pillar of this collaboration is the project “Digital Access to Library Content – Legal Frameworks in Germany and Sri Lanka”, based at the University of Münster. Within this project, the FernUni librarian is currently working together with Sri Lankan colleagues on developing a library law for Sri Lanka and an amendment to copyright law for digital education and research. “The political chances for implementation are currently good,” Steinhauer says optimistically.

The Faculty of Law in particular stands to benefit from cooperation with Sri Lanka: “We want to collaborate with the two Sri Lankan universities on international doctoral programs,” outlines Bernhard Kreße. “We are also planning joint publications.” The aim is to examine the legal systems of both countries comparatively (case law in Sri Lanka versus statutory law in Germany). “Despite the different legal systems, there are interesting parallels, for example in data protection law, which is strongly modeled on European data protection law,” Kreße emphasizes.

“There are similarly exciting points of connection in sustainability and energy law, especially with regard to the clearly noticeable effects of climate change in Sri Lanka.” For this reason, the Hagen legal scholars aim to embed the international partnership firmly within their research focus on Energy/Environment/Sustainability (EUN). Synergies also arise in teaching, Kreße adds: “We are planning to introduce an English-language Master’s program in International Economic and Human Rights Law, for which South Asian perspectives would be highly enriching.”

“We have now sown a seed,” says Prof. Dr. Nishantha Sampath Punchihewa on behalf of his colleagues. “This represents a great opportunity for Sri Lanka.” As Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Colombo, he is regularly involved in concrete legislative reforms in his country—and relies on the positive mutual impact of cooperation with the FernUniversität. Another return visit from Hagen, including lectures, meetings, and networking activities, could take place as early as this autumn. “We are already looking forward to it,” says Eric Steinhauer.