The National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS) here will explore the possibility of having academic and research collaborations with various universities and institutions around the world, K.C. Sunny, its new Vice Chancellor, has said.

“My priority will be to launch exchange programmes, where NUALS students would be able to pursue a semester abroad as part of the collaboration. We could also receive students from international universities to take up a semester here,” Prof. Sunny told The Hindu on Wednesday.

Currently the Dean of the School of Legal Studies, Central University of Kerala, Dr. Sunny brings an experience of 30 years as a teacher at Kerala University and the Central University of Kerala before taking up the new task.

“The credit transfer process will be ensured when a student of NUALS undertakes a semester programme at an institution abroad and vice versa,” he said.

As Director of International Affairs at the University of Kerala, Dr. Sunny had initiated the U.K. India Programme for U.K. students and Semester in India programme for U.S. students.

“Such programmes will help law students at NUALS to expand their horizons,” he said.

Special training

Dr. Sunny said he had plans to introduce a finishing school at NUALS, where the students would receive special training in not only becoming corporate lawyers but practising lawyers and teachers also.

“Skill development is the need of the hour. I will try to concentrate on fostering skill-based teaching at NUALS,” he said.

International observer

Author of the book Corrupt Practices in Election Law, Dr. Sunny was the international observer to the Nepal Constituent Assembly election in 2006 and the Parliament election in Bangladesh in 2007. His areas of specialisation include Administrative Law, Constitutional Law, Election Law, and Human Rights. Dr. Sunny said he would assume office early next week.