Presentation

The Research Centre on Justice and Governance (JusGov) is a beacon of innovation and performance in legal research, dedicated to advanced and applied research in Law.

Taking advantage of our location at the School of Law of the University of Minho (EDUM), JusGov aims to position itself as a central research hub for legal studies in Northern Portugal, uniting researchers from the University of Minho and the region’s polytechnic institutes.

As we expand our global presence, including establishing a delegation at the Autonomous University of Lisbon, JusGov has become a leading force for legal studies in Portugal and the Euroregion of Galicia.

JusGov seeks to explore the role of Law in addressing the challenges of today, as outlined in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We focus on promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, gender equality, access to justice for all, and building effective and accountable institutions at all levels.

JusGov’s interdisciplinary research agenda is structured around seven specialised Research Groups, each with a specific focus and mission:

  • CEDU (Studies in European Union Law) concentrates on core legal issues shaping the EU and promotes international networking at the EU level.
  • DH (Human Rights) emphasises unalienable rights, including labour exploitation of migrants and vulnerable groups, advancing comprehensive human rights research.
  • E.Tec (State, Enterprise and Technology) explores the intersection of Law and technology, expanding now into Aerospace Law (predominantly Space Law and Policy), to bridge legal frameworks with technological advancements.
  • GLOB (Globalisation, Democracy and Power) addresses sustainability, power, democracy, and International Humanitarian Law to tackle global justice and governance issues.
  • JusCrim (Criminal Justice and Criminology) focuses on the effectiveness, implementation, and administration of criminal justice to address contemporary challenges posed by all forms of crime.
  • JusLab (Justice Lab) delves into real-world judicial issues, the legitimacy of legal decisions, and interpretative processes to enhance justice systems through scholarly and practitioner collaboration.
  • EI (School of Researchers) fosters the scientific careers of student researchers and their relations with all Research Groups, ensuring well-being, commitment, and work-life balance, effectively supporting the next generation of legal researchers.

JusGov engages in a strong connection with the community beyond academia, reaching out to companies and public decision-making bodies, and is committed to open-access publishing and sharing research findings through recognised outlets and networks. We welcome visiting researchers from all countries, particularly Portuguese-speaking nations, and emphasise international collaboration and joint training programmes.

Investing in the future, JusGov supports emerging researchers on Justice and Governance and offers innovative MA and PhD programmes at the EDUM, along with short-term workshops. Dedicated to fostering a collaborative and forward-thinking legal research community, JusGov aims to pioneer advancements in the domains of juridical and governmental scholarship and train the next generations of legal scholars and practitioners.

Participating institutions