On September 12, the launching ceremony of the dual master's degree program was successfully held at the Haidian Campus of CUPL. This program was jointly initiated by China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL) and Washington University in St. Louis, USA. Chen Li, Visiting Professor of Washington University Law School in St. Louis, and Shi Jianzhong, Vice President of CUPL, attended the ceremony. Heads of relevant schools and departments of CUPL, and 30 students enrolled in the class 2020 of the dual master's degree program in international law participated in the ceremony. The event was presided over by Liu Li, Deputy Dean of the School of International Law.
On behalf of CUPL, Vice President Shi Jianzhong extended a warm welcome to the US representative, Prof. Chen Li. Then, he briefed the US representative on CUPL, including its history, disciplines, international exchanges, etc. He also reviewed the bilateral cooperation between the two universities, and expressed his gratitude to Washington University in St. Louis for its long-term support. He pointed out that faced with a severe and complex international situation, it is a hard-earned achievement to initiate the dual master's degree program in international law. CUPL will extend its full support to this program. Joining hands together with Washington University in St. Louis, CUPL hopes to build the program into a significant platform and window for building a world-class law university with Chinese characteristics, implementing education opening-up, and advancing world-class disciplines.This cooperation will form a synergy of legal education between China and the US, connect Chinese and foreign alumni, and cultivate high-caliber legal talents who are proficient in international rules for the two countries. As a well-renowned university reputed for legal education in China, it is the bound duty of CUPL to initiate this program.Vice President Shi hoped that students could make full use of the substantial and valuable educational resources of both universities, improve their language skills, gain a profound understanding of both legal systems and governance systems, expand their international perspectives, and develop their ability to engage in international affairs and international competition, thus making an outstanding contribution to the cooperation between the two universities. He also hoped that this program could profoundly promote the bilateral education cooperation and communication between China and the United States.
Prof. Chen Li read out a congratulatory letter from Andrew D. Martin, President of Washington University in St. Louis. In the congratulatory letter, President Martin expressed his gratitude to the partners of CUPL for their support to the cooperative education program between the two universities, and he hoped to further consolidate and push forward the cooperation. Washington University in St. Louis would remain committed to making this cooperative education program a benchmark example. He also expressed expectations that the students may visit Washington University in St. Louis in 2021 for exchange studies.
Prof. Xu Lan, Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange and Dean of the School of International Education, read out the congratulatory letter from Ma Huaide, President of CUPL. In the congratulatory letter, President Ma congratulated the first batch of students who took part in this cooperative education program between CUPL and Washington University in St. Louis, and expressed his heartfelt thanks to the US partners for the great efforts they invested in this collaborative program. At the 2018 National Education Conference, Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward new goals and requirements for Chinese-foreign educational cooperation in the new era. CUPL and Washington University in St. Louis promise to provide full support to the dual degree program, which would pull together valuable resources of legal education from the two sides. He hoped that the program would play an exemplary and innovative role in nurturing high-end international legal talents. President Ma urged the students to uphold a pioneering spirit, enhance academic performance, and cultivate their minds and characters, thus striving to become exceptional legal professionals who are urgently needed in the advancement of the rule of law in China.
Sun Xin made a statement as the student representative. Reviewing the current complex domestic and international situation, he expressed determination to develop a deep understanding of China, and learn American politics, economy, culture and law, so as to serve as the bridge for people-to-people exchanges and communication between China and the US.
Nancy Staudt, Dean of the Law School of Washington University in St. Louis, gave a video speech. She pointed out that CUPL is an excellent partner for achieving the goal of Washington University in St. Louis to establish a world-class law school. She held great expectations of the visit of Chinese students next year and in the future to cooperate with CUPL to carry out the dual master's degree program in international law.
Kong Qingjiang, Dean of the School of International Law, said that the Sino-foreign cooperative education program is an innovative exploration for the training model for international legal talents, and put forward four suggestions to the students. The first is to implement the requirement of “cultivating morality and knowledge to pursue professional competence”, which was proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in the speech when inspecting CUPL. The priority of international legal personnel is to safeguard national interests in the international arena and to gain a sense of political sensitivity when contacting foreigners independently. The second is to cultivate a global perspective, have a good command of foreign languages, and fully understand foreign cultures and thinking. The third is to cherish the three-year school time, and get prepared for a tight and busy learning schedule, and to acquire as much knowledge and skills as possible. The fourth is to strengthen foreign-related practical training, gain knowledge and accumulate experience through practice.
It is reported that the dual master's degree program in international law jointly launched by CUPL and Washington University in St. Louis, USA, is the only approved program of such among those proposed by other Beijing universities in the first half of 2019. It is also one of the only two cooperative education programs at the graduate level. The duration of this program is three years. Students participating in the program will study at CUPL for the first two years, and then go to Washington University in St. Louis for the last year. After graduation, they will obtain both a Chinese MA Degree in International Law and a Master of Law (LL.M) of the US.
