A new postgraduate program at WU will provide judges and prosecutors with additional weapons in the fight against corruption and white-collar crime. Federal Minister of Justice Beatrix Karl and WU Rector Christoph Badelt presented the new WU Executive Academy´s Economic Crime and Law program on December 10, 2012, together with Program Director Michael Lang.

"We must be resolute in the fight against corruption and white-collar crime in Austria," said Federal Minister of Justice Beatrix Karl at today's press conference. "Education and further professional training are important starting points in facing this challenge. This new program will help improve judges' and prosecutors' competence in the field of economics," she continued.

High demand

The high level of interest in this non-compulsory program among legal professionals shows that there is a substantial demand for further education in this area. For the first group, which started in November with 22 participants, the number of applicants was more than double the number of available places. Based on this demand, an additional group has been organized for the 2013 summer semester. "This course will not only improve judges' and prosecutors' economic expertise, but also make the Austrian justice system more efficient. Proceedings will be shorter and less expensive, because we will not need to consult as many external experts," says Karl about the advantages of the program.

Help in solving and preventing white-collar crime

WU was commissioned with the development of the program by the Federal Minister of Justice. Rector Christoph Badelt and Professor Michael Lang were in charge of the project. At the press conference announcing the program, Badelt stated that the public awareness of economic crime has risen steadily in Austria over the past few years. "We are pleased to be able to work together with the Ministry of Justice on the LLM program Economic Crime and Law and to be able to contribute to the further education of the individuals responsible for solving and preventing white-collar crimes."

Current academic discourse and comprehensive practical training

WU Professor Michael Lang, Director of the Economic Crime and Law program said in closing, "Based on state-of-the-art academic discussion, participants are able to hone existing skills and expertise, which they then learn to apply and implement thanks to the program's comprehensive practical orientation."

Contact:
Cornelia Moll
PR Manager
Email: cornelia.moll@wu.ac.at
http://blog.wu.ac.at