An interdisciplinary programme delivered by five institutions
The school was delivered by a five-institution consortium: the University of Łódź, Kore University of Enna, Vilnius University, the Bucharest University of Economic Studies, and the University of Luxembourg. The five-day programme covered internet governance, critical infrastructure protection, the law of the sea, AI governance, cybercrime, and European cybersecurity law. This year's edition situated each theme within the broader evolution of public international law and its regulation of the new domains of state and institutional activity.
Inaugural lecture and strategic game
The school opened with a keynote lecture by Dr Joanna Kulesza, Assistant Professor at the Department of Public International Law and International Relations and Director of the Centre for Research on International Law in Cyberspace (Lodz Cyber Hub), addressing the place of cyberspace within the structure of international law.
The lecture was followed by the Cyber Policy Haus strategic game, written specifically for our school by the Belgian-German think tank Cyber Policy Haus, a standing partner of the Lodz Cyber Hub. Participants worked through real-world cases of attacks in cyberspace. The game was originally designed for the European Security and Defence College (ESDC) course on International Law and Cybersecurity, delivered by LCH, and was adapted for the student format of SSIGIL.
Lectures and workshops were led by representatives of the consortium institutions, as well as Palacký University Olomouc, King's College London, and the RAND Corporation. A significant operational contribution came from RIPE NCC, whose representative introduced participants to the practical realities of internet routing security.
The final day belonged to the participants themselves, who jointly drafted a statement for the 21st Internet Governance Forum (IGF), to be held in Nairobi from 14 to 18 December 2026. The school concluded with a formal certificate ceremony.
Internationalisation in practice
SSIGIL is one of the pillars of the internationalisation strategy of the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Łódź, bringing students together with experts from partner universities, European Union institutions, and technical organisations. This year's record attendance confirms the growing role of Łódź as a venue for international legal debate on cyberspace.
The organisers wish to thank Welchman Keen for sponsoring this year's edition, which enables continued engagement with stakeholders across the Pacific region. Particular thanks go to the UNIC alliance (European University of Cities in Post-Industrial Transition) and Koç University in Istanbul. This partnership allows the University of Łódź to build a lasting, transnational academic network among post-industrial cities, bringing together research on law, technology, and public governance with the real challenges of urban transition. SSIGIL stands as one of the pillars of this collaboration in the field of international law.
