On September 12 and 13, 2024, early-career researchers from Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, and Germany gathered at the University of Innsbruck to discuss current issues in corporate law research as part of the Forum for Young Corporate Law Scholars.

The forum, which originated from the postdoctoral colloquium of the Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law in Hamburg, was held for the fifth time. The event was jointly organized by Prof. Dr. Alexandra Butterstein, LL.M. (University of Liechtenstein) and Assoc. Prof. Dr. MMag. Mathias Walch, LL.M. (University of Innsbruck), and provided a valuable platform for junior faculty members and postdoctoral researchers to present their latest findings and engage in in-depth exchange with peers from the field. Institutions represented included the MPI Hamburg, Bucerius Law School Hamburg, the Universities of Münster, Mainz, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Graz, Salzburg, Zurich, and the University of Liechtenstein.

Following the arrival of participants on Thursday morning and a warm welcome by Prof. Dr. Alexandra Butterstein, LL.M. and Assoc. Prof. Dr. MMag. Mathias Walch, LL.M. (Yale), the conference began with a varied and thematically diverse program. Participants gave short presentations on the current status of their research, offering scholars the opportunity to make valuable connections and deepen interdisciplinary dialogue.

A wide range of corporate law topics were discussed at the event. These included the distribution of power in the insolvency of a limited liability company shareholder, corporate body competencies during impending insolvency, the corporate purpose between the autonomy of the articles of association and management independence, and judicial control of shareholder resolutions on capital raising. Recent developments in football corporate law were also examined, as were comparative perspectives on private autonomy in stock corporation law between common law and civil law systems. Reflections on the lifespan of a pre-emption right provided insights into the intersection of civil and corporate law, and fundamental legal questions concerning partnerships under civil law (GesbR) and co-ownership were addressed.

The Forum for Young Corporate Law Scholars 2024 offered outstanding opportunities for young researchers in corporate law to present their work to a broad expert audience and to exchange ideas with colleagues from four different legal systems. The University of Liechtenstein was represented by Prof. Dr. Alexandra Butterstein, LL.M. and Dr. Marco Lettenbichler, LL.M., who contributed important perspectives on Liechtenstein’s corporate law.

As part of the Erasmus+ project “Design Science Research Academy”, led by Dr. Michael Gau, postdoctoral researcher at the Liechtenstein Business School, an online seminar on teaching Design Science Research (DSR) was successfully held. 111 lecturers from 97 universities in 30 countries took part.

The Erasmus+ project aims to develop innovative training materials for design science research and to offer these via the DSR Academy in the form of free online courses. The courses are aimed at students and professionals and cover both beginner and advanced levels. The project is supported by leading universities such as the University of Jyväskylä, the University of Münster and the University of St. Gallen.

As part of the Association for Information Systems' AIS Digital Academy seminar series, those responsible for the project were able to present their research results and exchange ideas with the participants.

Further information can be found on the project website: dsr-academy.org
 

The Stiftung Lebenswertes Liechtenstein and the University of Liechtenstein will be working together over the next three years as part of the “Pro Bono” teaching format to make a joint commitment to society.

The term “pro bono” means for the benefit of the public; as part of pro bono projects, students from the University of Liechtenstein work with partner organizations on charitable projects. The aim of the partnership with the Stiftung Lebenswertes Liechtenstein is to make the students' pro bono projects more visible, to better network organizations (associations, municipalities, etc.) from society and students and to award prizes to successful projects.

Students at the University of Liechtenstein are committed to social and ecological sustainability

In the “Pro Bono” teaching format at the University of Liechtenstein, architecture and business students cooperate with organizations from the field to make their environment more sustainable. The aim of this collaboration is to develop and implement innovative solutions that have a positive impact on society and the environment.
The projects not only promote the practical training of students, but also raise their awareness of the importance of sustainable and social practices. This initiative demonstrates how transdisciplinary collaboration and the engagement of young people can make concrete progress towards a more sustainable future for Liechtenstein and the region.

Since the module was introduced five years ago in the architecture degree courses and a year ago in the Bachelor's degree course in Business Administration, almost 100 project ideas have already been initiated and implemented worldwide. From Liechtenstein and neighboring countries to South America, Africa and Asia, all project ideas have in common that they are specifically designed for implementation in cooperation with regional organizations and make a contribution to the common good. There are virtually no limits to creativity: The projects range from upcycling workshops to the temporary revitalization of a vacant industrial site, the construction of an exhibition pavilion and the strengthening of technical skills among senior citizens.

Moving forward together

Social cohesion is a focal point of the work of the Stiftung Lebenswertes Liechtenstein. It supports initiatives and projects that strengthen the community and promote a society in which everyone is accepted, has equal rights and can participate in a self-determined manner. The partnership with the University of Liechtenstein makes it possible to achieve this goal by supporting “Pro Bono” student projects that offer sustainable and innovative solutions to social challenges.
As part of the University of Liechtenstein's Open Day on September 7, the joint partnership and selected pro bono projects will be presented in the new Ebaholz University building. This will take the form of an exhibition of pro bono projects and the serving of drinks by “con voi” - a mobile bar developed and implemented by Simon Egger for the Neuraum association as part of the pro bono project.