UNCTAD University IIA Mapping Project

What is the University IIA Mapping Project?

The University IIA Mapping Project is a collaborative initiative between UNCTAD and universities worldwide to map the content of international investment agreements (IIAs). The resulting database serves as a tool for policymakers, researchers and other investment and development stakeholders to understand trends in IIA drafting, assess the prevalence of different policy approaches and identify treaty examples. The University IIA Mapping Project is an ongoing effort that aims to map all IIAs for which texts are available (around 3,000).

Over the course of six mapping segments, 2,500 IIAs have been mapped, held over the following periods:

Segment 1: January – May 2013
Segment 2: January – May 2014
Segment 3: January – May 2015
Segment 4: September – December 2015
Segment 5: January – May 2016
Segment 6: September – December 2016

The latest – sixth mapping segment involved the participation of 150 students from 30 universities in 23 different countries. During this segment, approximately 600 BITs were mapped by students in the following languages: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Arabic, Chinese, Italian and Russian.

The University IIA Mapping Project is coordinated by a team supervised by Ms. Elisabeth Tuerk, Chief of the IIA Section at UNCTAD. The current team members include Cree Jones, Ventzislav Kotetzov, Malvika Monga and Diana Rosert. Cree Jones, an Economics PhD student at the University of Chicago and an alum of the Law School at the University of Michigan, planned and initiated the University Project in 2012. The mapping methodology, including a detailed “Mapping Guide”, has been developed based on inputs from UNCTAD staff, consultants and IIA experts.

We thank our partners – students and professors – at over 45 universities around the globe for their time and efforts in mapping for the UNCTAD University IIA Mapping Project.

University Partners


Argentina		Austral University University Partner: Juan Stampalija, Assistant Professor of Law Segment(s): 4 National University of La Plata University Partner: Facundo Perez Aznar, Professor of International Economic Law Team Leaders: Justina Granillo, Maria Sarmiento Segment(s): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 University of Buenos Aires University Partner: Silvina Gonzalez Napolitano, Professor of Public International Law Team Leader: Belen Ibañez Segment(s): 2, 3, 4, 6 Torcuato Di Tella University University Partner: Silvina Gonzalez Napolitano, Professor of Law Segment(s): 4
Australia		Monash University Faculty of Law University Partner: Emmanuel Laryea, Associated Professor of Law Segment(s): 4, 5, 6
Austria		Danube University Krems University Partner: Gabriel Lentner, Lecturer in Law Segment(s): 6
Azerbaijan		Baku State University University Partner: Azar Aliyev Segment(s): 6
Brazil		Federal University of Rio de Janeiro University Partner: Ely Caetano Xavier Junior, Professor of International Law Segment(s): 6 Federal University of Minas Gerais University Partner: Aziz Tuffi Saliba, Professor of International Trade Law Team Leaders: Bruno de Oliveira Biazatti Segment(s): 5 Federal University of Paraiba University Partner: Professor Marcílio Franca Filho Segment(s): 6 Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul University Partner: Fabio Morosini Team Leaders: Luciano Vaz Ferreira Segment(s): 6
Canada		Laval University University Partner: Charles-Emmanuel Cote, Professor of Public International Law Segment(s): 4, 5 University of Ottawa University Partner: Anthony Van-Duzer, Professor; Celine Levesque, Professor of International Investment Public International Law Segment(s): 2, 5
China		Xi’an Jiaotong University University Partner: Wenhua Shan Team Leader: Peng Wang Segment(s): 6 Xiamen University University Partner: Huiping Chen, Professor of International Law Segment(s): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
France		Paris Institute of Political Studies University Partner: Walid Ben Hamida, Professor of Law Segment(s): 2 SciencesPo University Partner: Regis Bismuth, Professor of Law Segment(s): 6 University of Burgundy University Partner: Sebastien Manciaux, Professor of International Law Team Leaders: Catharine Titi Segment(s): 5 University of Evry Val d’Essonne University Partner: Professor Ben Hamida Segment(s): 1 University of Poitiers University Partner: Regis Bismuth, Professor of Public Law Segment(s): 5 Paris Nanterre University University Partner: Franck Latty, Professor of Public Law Segment(s): 5
Germany		University of Erlangen-Nuremberg University Partner: Markus Krajewski, Professor of Public and International Law Team Leaders: Maria Luque Segment(s): 1, 2, 4
Greece		National and Kapodistrian University of Athens University Partner: Anastasios Gourgourinis, Lectuer in Public International Law Segment(s): 6
India		NALSAR University of Law University Partner: Rajesh Kapoor, Assistant Professor of International Commercial Law Segment(s): 5
Italy		Bocconi University University Partner: Giorgio Sacerdoti, Senior Professor, Department of Law Team Leaders: Francesco Montanaro, Carlo de Stefano Segment(s): 5, 6 Roma Tre University University Partner: Antonietta Di Blasé, Professor of International Law Team Leaders: Elettra Ferri Segment(s): 5
Japan		Nagoya University, Graduate School of Law University Partner: Alisher Umirdinov, Assistant Professor of Law Segment(s): 6
Mauritius		University of Mauritius University Partner: Valerie Uppiah, Varsha Mooneeram-Chadee, Professor of Law Segment(s): 6
Morocco		University of Marrakech University Partner: Professor Said Agrib, Professor of Law Segment(s): 6
Republic of Korea		Korea University Law School University Partner: Asif Qureshi, Professor of International Economic Law Team Leaders: Taehee Ahn, Lee Seo Hee, Yoon-Kyung Lee Segment(s): 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 Seoul National University University Partner: Hi-Taek Shin Team Leaders: Bo Yeon Kim Segment(s): 6
Russia		Moscow State Institute of International Relations University Partner: Ilia Rachkov, Professor of International Economic Law Segment(s): 6 St. Petersburg State University University Partner: Marina Trunk-Fedorova, Associate Professor Segment(s): 6
Singapore		Singapore Management University, School of Law University Partner: Locknie Hsu, Professor of International Trade and Investment Law Segment(s): 1
Switzerland		University of Geneva University Partner: Makane Mbengue, Associate Professor of International Law Team Leaders: Stefanie Schacherer Segment(s): 5, 6 University of Lausanne University Partner: Andreas Ziegler, Professor; Tarcisio Gazzini, Senior Researcher Segment(s): 5
Tunisia		Tunis El Manar University, Faculty of Law and Political Sciences University Partner: Rym Ben Khelifa, Junior Lecturer in International Investment Law Segment(s): 6
Turkey		Hacettepe University University Partner: Sedat Cal, Assistant Professor Segment(s): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Istanbul Bilgi University University Partner: Pinar Artiran, Assistant Professor of Private, International Law Segment(s): 5 Istanbul Sehir University University Partner: Yusuf Caliskan Segment(s): 6
United Kingdom		City University London University Partner: David Collins, Professor of International Economic Law Segment(s): 5 King’s College, School of Law University Partner: Federico Ortino, Reader in International Economic Law & Mona Pinchis, Visiting Lecturer Segment(s): 1, 2, 3, 5 London School of Economics and Political Science University Partner: Andrew Lang, Professor of Public International Law & Chris Thomas, Assistant Professor in Law Segment(s): 5, 6
United States of America		Boston College University Partner: Frank Garcia, Professor of Law and Dean’s Global Fund Scholar Team Leaders: Judy Yi & Phillip Cosmos Segment(s): 2, 3, 4, 5 University of Hawaii, Richardson School of Law University Partner: Diane Desierto, Associate Professor of Law Team Leaders: Anthony Makana Segment(s): 2, 4 University of Arkansas University Partner: Uche Ewelukwa Ofodile, Professor of Law Segment(s): 6 University of Michigan University Partner: Steven Ratner, Professor of Public International Law Segment(s): 2, 5

Click on the button below for a full list of student participants


	Sebastian Manciaux, Professor of International Law, University of Burgundy “Taking part in UNCTAD’s Mapping Project has been a tremendous experience, both for the University of Burgundy academic team and the students. It was a nice opportunity to make the students work on a different project, very much on line with reality. A valuable experience for their personal project and an excellent complement to the International Investment Law courses we gave, Catharine Titi and I.”
	Mona Pinchis, Visiting Lecturer, King’s College London “King’s College London is proud to have been one of the original schools to participate in the mapping project. King’s LL.M. students volunteered their time towards the mapping of hundreds of treaties. Every year, our students would report that they learned a great deal about the content of investment treaties, often finding it helped them understand the investment policy of their home country. Every year, many students were relieved to discover that most treaties were not as complicated as their training exercise treaty – the Canada-China BIT!”
	Frank Garcia, Professor of Law & Dean’s Global Fund Scholar, Boston College “The UNCTAD IIA Mapping Project is UNCTAD at its best: linking its mission and the technical expertise of its staff with the enthusiasm and good will of an army of law students around the world, towards developing a tool that will support research, build capacity and over time contribute to a more just global investment regime.”
	Charles-Emmanuel Côté, Vice-Dean & Full Professor, Faculty of Law, Laval University “Participating in the UNCTAD Mapping Project gave Laval University students a first-hand working experience in international investment law. By its global approach and network, it offered students a unique opportunity to expand their understanding of international investment law and policy. I greatly appreciated the chance to guide them in this project.“
	Chen Huiping, Professor of International Law, Xiamen University School of Law “I have participated in UNCTAD’s IIAs Mapping Project since 2012. Mapping the IIAs helps students to better and deeper understand details of IIAs. They share their experience and happiness with their younger fellow students and encourage them to participate. I am very grateful for this!”
	Giorgio Sacerdoti, Senior Professor, Department of Law, Bocconi University “It has been an honor for us at Bocconi to contribute to this important project and I am pleased that our PhD students’ work has been appreciated. A great experience for all of them! I look forward to further opportunities of cooperation.”
	Antonietta Di Blase, Professor of International Law, Roma Tre University “UNCTAD’s IIA Mapping Project is a unique opportunity for students to be personally involved in the growing of a common and shared understanding of the most recent trends and practice in International Investment Law.”
	Steven Ratner, Professor of Public International Law, University of Michigan Law School “It was a great learning experience for our students. They had a chance to gain close exposure to BITs and compare their findings with students from across the globe.”
	Facundo Perez Aznar, Professor of International Economic Law, National University of La Plata “I have been involved in the UNCTAD IIA Mapping Project since its first round. Many of the participants are now pursuing their academic and professional careers in the field of international investment law. Personally I feel enriched by the questions, debates and analysis that resulted from the mapping of IIAs. I hope that similar projects involving international organisations and students will develop in other areas of international law. The results of the UNCTAD IIA Mapping Project are no doubt an indispensable tool for anyone involved in the field of international investment law.”
	Locknie Hsu, Professor of International Trade and Investment Law, Singapore Management University, School of Law “The mapping project was a great opportunity for the Singapore Management University Law School to work with UNCTAD, to contribute to research on investment treaty provisions. Given that the interest in investment treaties is clearly growing in Asia, our students were excited to work with those from other parts of the world in this unique project.”
	Regis Bismuth, Professor of Public Law, University of Poitiers “”The students were delighted and it has been an extremely enriching experience for them.”
	Asif H. Qureshi, Professor of International Economic Law, Korea University, School of Law “The UNCTAD Mapping Project gave Korea University Law School an opportunity to make a real contribution to the development of international investment law.”
	Pinar Artiran, Assistant Professor of Private, International Law, Istanbul Bilgi University “Taking part in the UNCTAD IIA University Mapping Project not only entitled our students to analyze state of the art international investment agreements, but it has also been a truly enriching, precious and remarkable experience for Istanbul Bilgi University to cooperate with a prestigious international organisation such as UNCTAD and teaming up with universities that are known worldwide in a field that is fast growing and crucially important for any law student pursuing a legal career that is geared towards excelling at international law, business and investment. It is without any doubt that our students truly appreciated the opportunity to assist UNCTAD through this project and thus being exposed to the challenging legal universe of international investment agreements that will surely provide them with a unique advantage in their legal formation and practice. As a WTO Chair Holder University appointed by the World Trade Organization with whom Istanbul Bilgi University Faculty of Law has been collaborating with since 2010, we are delighted and honoured to extend our cooperation to UNCTAD and we certainly remain committed to the work and projects ahead.”
	Marcílio Franca, Professor of International Law, Universidade Federal da Paraíba “Be sure that, by our side, it was a great pleasure to take part in this insightful initiative of UNCTAD.”
	Fabio Morosini, Professor of International Law, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul “It was a pleasure to contribute to this project. We rely extensively on UNCTAD’s data for the purposes of our research and I am sure that I speak for my students and Luciano, our team leader, as well when I say that I feel honoured to have taken part of this project. We will look forward to contributing again in the future.”
	Alisher Umirdinov, International Law Professor, Nagoya University, Graduate School of Law “As a unique program designed by UNCTAD staff, the IIA Mapping Project tremendously increases students’ understanding of investment treaty provisions and related legal problems in a very short period of time. For me, it is an indispensable education tool that every serious investment law researcher and practitioner should experience once in his life.”
	Robin Sannassee, Professor of International Law and Magement, University of Mauritius “On behalf of my colleague and the students, I wish to thank you and the UNCTAD team to have given us the opportunity to participate in this very enriching exercise.”
	Wenhua Shan, Professor of International Economic Law, Xi’an Jiaotong University “I think the IIA Mapping project is one of the most important “infrastructure projects” in the world for IIA studies and practice. It offers an important tool for IIA decision makers, scholars and practitioners. It is a privilege and pleasure for XJTU to be able to take part in this great initiative. Our staff and students involved have all benefited tremendously from this well organized project and are deeply appreciative of the expertise, care and patience that we have received from the organizers from UNCTAD throughout the process. We wish the project every success and look forward to opportunities to further participating this or other projects of the UNCTAD.”
	Yusuf Caliskan, Professor of Private International Law, International Commercial Law, International Investment Law Istanbul Şehir University “The UNCTAD Mapping Project was an invaluable experience for İstanbul Şehir University Law students. They learn how to read an investment agreement which is a crucial issue for not only in prospective investment treaty making process but also in investment arbitration. Analyzing various bilateral investment treaties through cross working with students from around the world provide an opportunity to gain experience working on an international level. We certainly look forward to further cooperation with UNCTAD.”
	Ely Caetano Xavier Junior, Professor of International Law and Conflict of Laws, Federal Rural University of Rio De Janeiro do Rio de Janeiro “It has been an unique experience for students to engage in the UNCTAD’s Mapping Project, a truly global and collaborative initiative. Further than gaining understanding of international investment policymaking, students had the opportunity to build research skills and contribute to an important database for researchers, negotiators and government officials.”
	Marina Trunk-Fedorova, Professor of International Law and International Economic Law, St. Petersburg State University “It was an honour and pleasure for us to be involved into the IIA Mapping Project. Using this opportunity, we would like to thank the UNCTAD IIA Team for the excellent organisation and administration of this project! I also wanted to say that this project was a perfect addition to my course on international investment law, and students were very enthusiastic about this analytical work with real texts for the UNCTAD.”
	Makane Mbengue, Professor of International Law, Université de Genève “We were pleased to participate again in the UNCTAD mapping project and are very happy that you appreciated the work and participation of our students.”