2023 Bhutan: Teaching exchange with the Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law

Teaching exchange with the Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law

Professor Windischgrätz at AI Conference in Bhutan

In October 2025, Professor Windischgrätz participated in a conference on artificial intelligence held in Paro. The event was organized by the renowned law firm Anand & Anand, known for its expertise in intellectual property.Discussions focused on the extent to which legislation should govern the development and use of AI—both in general and specifically in relation to copyright law.

Another key topic was the potential role of AI in advancing Bhutan’s national goal of promoting Gross National Happiness. The conference also explored the objectives of the European Union’s AI Act, particularly its emphasis on fostering human-centric AI.

The conference brought together an interdisciplinary group of participants. Notably, experts in neuroscience offered fascinating insights into the nature of consciousness.

Research Visit by Yeshi Lhamo on Children’s Rights and Family Law

In June 2025, Yeshi Lhamo, Junior Lecturer at the JSW School of Law, visited our faculty to conduct research on children's rights and conflict-of-law issues in family law. Special thanks go to Prof. Lysander Fremuth and Prof. Claudia Rudolf for their invaluable support. By participating in the annual conference of the ARS Juris Doctoral School, Yeshi Lhamo had the opportunity to connect with Austrian colleagues.

Ugyen Thinley and Sangay Norbu from JSW School of Law at Manuscript Workshop in Vienna

In November 2024, Ugyen Thinley, Head Librarian at the JSW School of Law, and his colleague Sangay Norbu participated in the international workshop Manuscript Collections Across Eurasia, held at the Austrian National Library in Vienna. The event, organized by Dr. Nina Mirnig in collaboration with Bruno De Nicola and Bernhard Palme, was hosted under the auspices of the University of Vienna’s Cluster of Excellence “EurAsian Transformations”.

The workshop brought together scholars and heritage professionals to explore the historical, cultural, and bibliographic significance of manuscript collections across Central and broader Eurasia. Ugyen Thinley and Sangay Norbu’s attendance highlighted JSW School of Law’s commitment to preserving Bhutan’s manuscript heritage and engaging in global conversations on conservation practices.

Their participation not only fostered academic exchange but also strengthened ties between Bhutanese and Austrian institutions in the shared pursuit of safeguarding cultural memory.

Dean´s Visit in Bhutan

From October 28th to November 3rd, 2023, our Dean, Prof. Zöchling-Jud, and Prof. Windischgrätz visited our partner university, JSW School of Law, to renew the faculty agreement signed in 2016 and strengthen our collaboration. In addition to visiting the Law School, they engaged in a discussion on constitution and state with the judges of the High Court. They also had the opportunity to meet with Ashi Sonam Dechen Wangchuck, the President of the Law School. The visit included meetings with Bhutanese alumni who had completed LLM programs in International Law and Human Rights Law in Vienna, as well as planning for future joint teaching and research projects.

Guest lecture Dr. Karma Phuntsho

On October 23, 2023, Dr. Karma Phuntsho delivered a guest lecture titled "Reflecting on Bhutan's Spirituality, Culture, and History" at our faculty. During the lecture, he specifically discussed the socio-cultural changes that have taken place in Bhutanese society in recent years. Dr. Karma Phuntsho is a former monk, thinker, and renowned scholar on Bhutan and Buddhism. He has authored several books on Bhutan and Buddhism, and his expertise stems from his monastic education in India, followed by studies in Sanskrit and classical Indian religions at Oxford, where he obtained his doctorate in Oriental Studies. He has conducted research at various universities, including the University of Cambridge, Paris, and Virginia. Dr. Karma Phuntsho is also the award-winning author of the book "History of Bhutan".

The Project

In 2016 the Vienna Law Faculty and the Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law signed a Memorandum of Understanding in order to support Bhutan´s first Law School with teaching resources and to establish joint research projects. Members of our Faculty will design and teach courses at JSW Law, including courses in human rights, environmental law, jurisprudence, legal theory and legal history. Our team is complemented by colleagues from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, and the Universität der Bundeswehr, Munich.
For further information please see the Website of JSW Law.

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