Faculty Development Programme in International Investment Law

Faculty Development Programme in International Investment Law (FDPIIL) 

A Professional Specialized Skill Training Program by Indian Arbitration Institution (IAI)

• Eligibility: Any Basic Qualification or any Formal Education with Graduation and any teaching or work experience.

• Total Fees: Rs. 8,000/-
  (Everything Included from Admission, Course Fees and Delivery of Certificate, no additional Fees Apart from it)

• Mode: Online

• Study Material:  Will be provided through Learning Dashboard/Portal

• Learning Type: Self Paced

• Duration:  3 Months (Preferably, but can be completed anytime as soon as you give the Exam)

• Enrollment:  Any Time, there is no Fixed Enrolment Date or Day. A candidate can choose any time and the enrolment will be processed real time.

• Exam: One Online Exam, MCQ and Subjective Type Questions of 100 Marks. Passing Marks 40%. If unsuccessful, you can give additional two attempts.

• Procedure: Fill the Apply Now Form →  Pay the Requisite Amount of Fees by Clicking Pay Now Button → Then Click on Payment Confirmation button and fill the form with all the Details → Then login to the Dashboard.

Course Overview

International investment law represents one of the most dynamic, politically sensitive, and economically consequential branches of contemporary public international law. As states continuously balance the imperative to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) with sovereign regulatory autonomy over public health, environment, and financial stability, the legal regimes governing cross-border capital have undergone systemic re-evaluation. The Faculty Development Programme in International Investment Law (FDPIIL), curated by the Indian Arbitration Institution (IAI), delivers an intensive, advanced pedagogical and substantive grounding designed to cultivate high-tier academic and professional competence in this critical field.

This programme is structured to bridge foundational treaty doctrine with cutting-edge arbitral jurisprudence and classroom instructional methodology. Participants explore the evolution of the international investment regime from early customary standards of diplomatic protection to modern multilateral trade-and-investment agreements. The curriculum unpacks the core substantive protections found in International Investment Agreements (IIAs) and Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs), including Fair and Equitable Treatment (FET), Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) status, Full Protection and Security (FPS), and rules governing lawful and creeping expropriation.

Beyond substantive protections, FDPIIL equips educators and researchers with critical insight into Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS). Candidates examine the procedural architecture of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules, analyzing sovereign immunity, jurisdictional challenges, third-party funding, and annulment proceedings. Special focus is placed on the emerging legitimacy crisis within ISDS and reform agendas spearheaded by UNCITRAL Working Group III, including proposed multilateral investment courts and permanent appellate bodies.

Designed primarily for university professors, research scholars, legal consultants, and institutional trainers, this programme emphasizes curriculum design, pedagogical innovation, moot court coaching, and high-impact scholarship development. By integrating foundational doctrine, procedural strategy, and academic delivery frameworks, the IAI ensures that participants are fully equipped to design and teach modern investment law courses that meet global academic standards.

Course Structure and Modules

The tentative modules are as follows and are subject to continuous updates based on guidelines issued by the IAI Academic Council:

Module 1: Foundations, Evolution, and Treaties in International Investment Law

• Historical trajectory: from the Hull formula and diplomatic protection to modern IIAs and BITs.

• The architecture of bilateral, regional, and mega-regional trade and investment treaties.

• Interaction between international investment law, public international law, and host state domestic law.

Module 2: Defining "Investment" and "Investor" Across Jurisdictions

• The definition of "investment" under treaty provisions and the Salini criteria under Article 25 of the ICSID Convention.

• Determining "investor": nationality of legal and natural persons, corporate restructuring, and treaty shopping.

• Dual nationality complexities and corporate veil-piercing in foreign direct investments.

Module 3: Substantive Protections and Host State Obligations

• Fair and Equitable Treatment (FET): minimum standard of treatment versus autonomous treaty interpretations.

• Direct, indirect, and creeping expropriation: regulatory takings versus legitimate state police powers.

• Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) clauses, National Treatment (NT), and umbrella clauses.

Module 4: Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) Mechanisms and Jurisdiction

• Consent to arbitration: direct agreements, domestic investment statutes, and international treaties.

• Procedural rules: ICSID Convention frameworks, UNCITRAL arbitration, and PCA administrative roles.

• Jurisdictional prerequisites, admissibility objections, bifurcation, and emergency arbitrator reliefs.

Module 5: Defences, Counterclaims, and Contemporary Regulatory Space

• State defences: necessity, force majeure, essential security exceptions, and customary international law defences.

• Host state counterclaims against investors for environmental, labour, and human rights violations.

• Balancing foreign investor protection with the climate change transition and public policy imperatives.

Module 6: Awards, Annulment, Enforcement, and ISDS Reform Agendas

• ICSID annulment procedures under Article 52 versus set-aside proceedings under national arbitral seats.

• Recognition and execution of awards under the New York Convention and ICSID frameworks; sovereign immunity doctrines.

• Multilateral reform: UNCITRAL Working Group III deliberations, advisory centres, and multilateral investment courts.

Module 7: Advanced Pedagogy, Curriculum Design, and Moot Court Mentorship

• Structuring semester-length undergraduate and postgraduate curricula in International Investment Law.

• Case-method teaching, simulation design, and leading Socratic seminars on investment treaty arbitration.

• Preparing, guiding, and mentoring student teams for global investment arbitration moot competitions (e.g., FDI Moot).

Importance of Doing this Course

The field of international investment law has expanded far beyond standard legal doctrines into an indispensable subject of global governance, international economics, and state policy. Despite its vital significance, a noticeable pedagogical deficit persists across universities and law faculties, where structured courses on international investment arbitration are either absent or taught through outdated frameworks. The Faculty Development Programme in International Investment Law directly addresses this gap.

First, this course enhances substantive legal acumen. Educators and scholars gain mastery over technical treaty interpretations, jurisdictional thresholds, and landmark arbitral awards. Rather than reviewing treaties at a superficial level, participants learn to critically analyze treaty texts, identify conflicting arbitral awards, and explain complex concepts such as indirect expropriation versus legitimate non-compensable state regulation.

Second, the programme delivers tangible pedagogical value. Teaching international investment law demands advanced didactic methodologies that combine academic theory with practical arbitral simulations. FDPIIL equips faculty members with syllabus drafting models, problem-based learning exercises, and empirical teaching strategies. Participants learn how to mentor students in specialized international moot court competitions and guide advanced doctoral and master's dissertations in international economic law.

Third, this certification serves as a formal benchmark of subject-matter specialization. Issued by the Indian Arbitration Institution, the credential validates the holder’s ability to conduct high-quality teaching, author peer-reviewed scholarly research, and advise public or private stakeholders on treaty negotiations and investment disputes. For educators seeking academic progression, research grants, or institutional leadership roles, FDPIIL provides a distinguished competitive advantage.

Career Prospects

The specialized knowledge and credentialing earned through the FDPIIL open diverse career pathways across academia, legal advisory, policy formulation, and international institutions.

Senior Law Faculty, Lecturers, and Adjunct Professors: Graduates can introduce and lead specialized elective and core modules in International Investment Law, International Economic Law, and Dispute Resolution at law schools, business schools, and universities. This credential directly strengthens applications for tenure, promotion to associate or full professorships, and appointment as departmental chairs.

Directors of ADR and International Law Centres: Higher education institutions regularly establish dedicated centres for international dispute resolution and global trade studies. Certified faculty members are well positioned to lead these academic centres, secure research funding, oversee academic journals, and host international conferences on investment law reform.

Government Advisors and Treaty Negotiation Consultants: Ministries of commerce, finance, and external affairs seek academic specialists with deep doctrinal knowledge to advise on the drafting of Model Bilateral Investment Treaties, evaluate dispute exposure in existing agreements, and conduct impact assessments of cross-border investment pacts.

Think Tank Analysts and Policy Researchers: Global economic think tanks, NGOs, and policy institutes rely on investment law experts to author empirical reports, monitor UNCITRAL Working Group III deliberations, and produce policy briefs on environmental sustainability, energy transitions, and sovereign debt restructuring.

Investment Arbitration Researchers and Counsel: Specialized dispute resolution practices and boutique international arbitration firms retain academic consultants to draft memorials, evaluate treaty provisions, conduct comparative jurisdictional research, and advise on sovereign immunity questions.

Necessary Details

The Indian Arbitration Institution offers this faculty development program through an accessible, flexible digital framework designed to fit the schedules of working professors, researchers, and legal professionals.

Eligibility To ensure high-level discourse and relevant peer interaction, enrollment requires:

• Any Basic Qualification or any Formal Education with Graduation, along with any teaching or work experience.

This broad yet relevant criterion welcomes university educators, law teachers, research associates, legal practitioners, corporate in-house counsel, and government officers seeking formal training in international investment law.

Total Fees The comprehensive program fee is Rs. 8,000/-. This is an all-inclusive fee structure with no additional hidden costs. It covers admission, course administration, complete learning portal access, electronic study resources, examination assessment, and the physical printing and courier delivery of the final Certificate of Completion.

Mode and Study Material The program is delivered entirely Online. Candidates receive personal access credentials to the dedicated Learning Dashboard/Portal. Complete Study Material—including instructional modules, foundational treaty drafts, landmark arbitral decisions, pedagogical toolkits, and curated reading lists—is available directly through the portal for digital reading and reference.

Learning Type and Duration The program is conducted as a Self-Paced learning experience. While the recommended duration is 3 Months, learners have full flexibility to progress at their own speed. Candidates can complete their study and take the final online evaluation whenever they feel prepared, allowing for completion in less time if desired.

Enrollment Enrollment is open Any Time throughout the year. There are no fixed batch start dates, enrollment cycles, or admission windows. Applications and enrollments are processed in real time, granting immediate dashboard access upon verification.

Examination Structure Certification requires completing One Online Exam comprising Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Subjective Type Questions for a total of 100 Marks.

• Passing Marks: 40%

• Re-examination Policy: If unsuccessful on the first attempt, the candidate is allowed two additional attempts at no extra charge.

Procedure

1. Apply: Complete and submit the Apply Now Form on the IAI portal.

2. Pay: Pay the requisite course fee of Rs. 8,000/- by clicking the Pay Now button.

3. Confirm: Click the Payment Confirmation button and complete the verification form with transaction details.

4. Access: Log in to the Learning Dashboard to begin the course.