Introduction to International Boundaries: Definition, Delimitation and Dispute Resolution

International boundaries are a major source of friction between neighbouring states. Many land boundaries remain poorly defined and fewer than half of the world’s potential maritime boundaries have been fully agreed. Governments recognise the value of clearly-defined boundaries, yet the political, economic and social complexities of boundary regions, as well as the details of topography and history, often make resolving competing territorial and jurisdictional claims extraordinarily difficult. 

This online training course provides a simple, contextual overview of international boundaries and the practical measures that can be taken to resolve international boundary disputes. Through a series of short online lectures and a final practical exercise, the course explores the relevance of borders and looks at land and maritime boundary disputes, before covering methods available for dispute resolution. 

In addition to serving as a standalone overview of topics surrounding boundary disputes, the course may also be taken as a foundation or refresher prior to attending one of IBRU’s practitioner-led, face-to-face workshops. 

Who should attend? 

The workshop will be of value to anyone wanting to gain background knowledge of international boundaries, such as: 

• Junior Ministers 
• Diplomatic support staff 
• Legal advisors 
• Commercial litigators 
• Technical advisors
• Cartographers and surveyors
• Consultants and researchers 

Although the course is designed with the working practitioner in mind, it is also appropriate for students, academics, journalists and others who seek to deepen their knowledge of this fascinating topic at the intersection of Geography, History, International Relations, and Law. 

About the course 

The course consists of almost four hours of video content and concludes with an exercise where participants argue why a delimitation line should be drawn at a specific location, as well as outlining negotiation strategy and preferred dispute resolution venue. 

The videos can be watched in your own time and will be available for review as long as your licence is active. You will not need to complete the course in one go but can fit it around your schedule as required. 

The practical exercise will be assessed by our tutors and returned with comments. 

Upon registering and paying for your course, you will be sent the link to our online learning platform along with a password to allow you access. You will then have 30 days to complete the course and submit your exercise to the tutors. Tutors will be available to respond to basic questions through the online portal. 

Upon completion of the course, IBRU will provide you with a certificate of attendance to evidence that you have completed the course. 

Language

The course is available in both English and French.

Please state which version of the course you would prefer when you complete the booking form.

Programme 

Video 1: Introduction to Boundaries 

Video 2 : States and Territories 

Video 3 : The Continuing Relevance of Borders 

Video 4: From Borders to Boundaries…and Back Again 

Video 5: Boundary Disputes 

Video 6:  Boundary Practitioner Martin Pratt on Land Boundaries: ‘Practical Considerations in Land Boundary Definition and Recovery’ 

Video 7: UNCLOS and the Limits of Maritime Zones 

Video 8: Maritime Boundary Delimitation 

Video 9: Boundary Practitioner John Brown on Maritime Boundaries: 'Clear as Mud: Low Tide Elevations, Equidistance Lines and Baselines' 

Video 10: Methods of International Dispute Resolution 

Video 11: International Dispute Resolution under UNCLOS 

Video 12: Introduction to the Boundary Delimitation Exercise 

We have a team of boundary experts to lead you through your online learning experience 

Drawing on years of practical experience, our tutors and guest practitioners will guide you through an introduction to international boundaries with case studies, historical and conceptual background, and practical experiences to highlight and explain the content. 

Course Tutors 

Dr Henry Jones, Associate Professor of Law, Durham Law School, Durham University  

Professor Philip Steinberg, Professor of Geography and Director of IBRU, Durham University  

Expert Practitioners 

Mr John Brown, Consultant, Cooley LLP 

Professor Martin Pratt, Director, Bordermap Consulting

What Does it Cost?

The cost of the course is £215 per person

If you are a student in full time or part-time education, the cost of the online course is £100 per person. (If you are a student you must register with an email address associated with an educational institution.) 

The fee includes access to the online learning portal for 30 days. During these 30 days you will be able to complete the course by viewing the online videos and submitting the practical exercise. You will also be able to access lead course tutors for questions and clarification. Course tutors will provide feedback on your practical exercise after you have completed the course. 

How to Book 

Complete the booking form and we will send you a link to the payment page.

The details you give at this stage (email and name) will be the details you use to log in to the online portal. 

When you have booked and paid for the course, IBRU will send you a welcome email which includes a link to the online learning portal along with a password to access the course. 

Please allow up to 72 hours to receive the email with the password and access to the online course after payment has been made. At a weekend this will take longer as access can only be granted Monday-Friday. Your 30 days will begin from the date you are emailed the password and enrolment instructions. 

If you would like to make a group booking or are unable to pay via credit card, please contact IBRU.admin@durham.ac.uk to discuss alternate arrangements.