LAS Students reach semi-finals of the Jean-Pictet Competition
Congratulations to LAS Students Lara , Lena and Lea for reaching the semi-finals at the 50th anniversary edition of the Jean-Pictet Competition in Batam (Indonesia) and Singapore!
We asked the semi‑finalists to describe the adventure in their own words – here’s what they shared:
“Six months ago, the idea of participating in an international competition in International Humanitarian Law felt exciting — but still a little out of reach. Fast forward to March, and not only did we take part, we even made it to the semi-finals.
We had the incredible opportunity to represent University College Freiburg at the 50th anniversary edition of the Concours Jean-Pictet Competition in Batam (Indonesia) and Singapore.
The Concours Jean-Pictet is a renowned international competition in the field of International Humanitarian Law. Over the course of an intensive week, teams step into a variety of roles — from legal advisors to representatives of international organizations and conflict parties — and work through realistic, complex scenarios related to armed conflicts and the protection of civilians.
It was a truly rewarding experience that brought the idea of “bringing the law out of the books” to life. What stood out in particular were the many encounters with participants from all over the world. Alongside engaging academic and practical topical discussions, we were able to build meaningful connections and friendships that made this experience even more special. While the intensity and pressure were certainly real, the balance between learning, competition and community was outstanding.
As Governance students — and as the first team from University College Freiburg to participate — this journey meant a great deal to us.
We are especially grateful to our coach, Stoyan Panov, whose guidance and support were essential in preparing us for the competition. We would also like to thank University College Freiburg for making this experience possible.
All in all, it was an unforgettable and enriching experience. We sincerely hope that we will not be the last team from Freiburg to take part — and that we will meet many familiar faces from the Pictet community again.”