Two Uniservitate Awards 2026 distinctions: FLD and UCL recognised internationally

The commitment of the Université Catholique de Lille to Service-Learning has once again received international recognition. At the 2026 Uniservitate Awards, which celebrate some of the most inspiring initiatives in engaged pedagogy developed by Catholic universities worldwide, two distinctions highlight both a project led by the Faculty of Law and the broader institutional approach to Service-Learning implemented across the University.

Recognition for the Legal Clinic in Greece

In the Project category, Silvia Bartolini, lecturer and researcher at the Faculty of Law, received a Special Mention for her project Legal Clinic Greece: Vulnerabilities, Borders and Access to Asylum.

Based in Athens, this Legal Clinic provides students with first-hand experience of the key challenges surrounding European asylum law. By working alongside organisations supporting people in vulnerable situations, students are able to apply their legal knowledge while gaining a deeper understanding of the human, social and legal realities connected with migration issues.

This international recognition rewards an innovative educational approach that combines academic excellence, civic engagement and international perspectives.

University-wide Service-Learning recognised

At the same time, the Université Catholique de Lille received the 2026 Programme Award, recognising the institutional development of Service-Learning through the Parcours Humanités.

Unlike the Project category, which honours a specific initiative, this award recognises a university-wide educational strategy. It highlights the University’s commitment to embedding Service-Learning within its academic programmes, enabling students to learn by applying their skills in response to real societal needs.

The Faculty of Law has been actively contributing to this approach for several years. Its Bus de l’Accès au Droit, which had already received a Special Mention at the 2024 Uniservitate Awards, is one of its most emblematic examples. Through this initiative, as well as other projects such as the Tax Clinic, the Mediation Clinic and Service to our Elders, students put their legal knowledge into practice to support people facing difficulties in accessing legal information and assistance, while developing their professional skills and sense of responsibility.

A pedagogy serving the common good

These two distinctions reflect the diversity of initiatives developed by the Faculty of Law, while also highlighting Université Catholique de Lille’s wider ambition to make Service-Learning a key component of student education.

By combining academic learning, practical experience and reflection on civic engagement, this educational approach enables students to develop strong legal skills while becoming increasingly aware of their role in serving the public interest.

The 2026 Uniservitate Awards also recognise the collective contribution of lecturers, students and the many partners involved in these initiatives, further confirming the Faculty of Law’s leading role in promoting Service-Learning within Université Catholique de Lille.