On the afternoon of September 4, 2019, the 2019 academic year of the China-EU School of Law kicked-off with an Opening Ceremony held at the Mingfa Building. All new students attended. Liu Fei, the Chinese Co-Dean of CESL, Zhang Li, the representative of the Chinese law faculty, other Chinese law school professors such as Qi Hong and Zhao Tianshu, as well as the European law professor Shavana Haythornthwaite, and the Chinese law professor Susan Wintermuth attended the ceremony. It was hosted by CESL’s Assistant Professor Monika Prusinowska.
Dr. Monika Prusinowska talked about the importance of change to people. She encouraged students to make changes and to adapt to new things in life, to seize learning opportunities and to improve themselves.
Dr.Shavana Haythornthwaite, a representative of the European law teaching faculty, talked about the cooperation trend between China and the EU in recent years. She also mentioned the differences in culture and habits, encouraging everyone to seek common ground while reserving differences. She told students to establish good friendships, study hard, and she expressed her high expectations for them: that they should become leaders of the next generation.
Professor Zhang Li, a representative of the Chinese law teaching faculty, told everyone that in the process of studying the law, there must be persistence. She believes that the China-EU School of Law is a window to help everyone see the world, an opportunity to discover the world, and encouraged everyone to take advantage of what resources CESL has to offer. She told students to be well-rounded and general practitioners, to become senior intellectuals in the process of international exchanges and learning, to not only to know what they should, but also to know why and to learn with enthusiasm.
Subsequently, 2018 double master student Chen Yu, 2019 Chinese Law Taught in English (CLTE) student Jakub Olechowski, 2019 doctoral student Nadila, 2019 Master of European and International Law (MEIL) student Yang Bowen each spoke as student respresentatives. Chen Yu talked about the unique curriculum of CESL, such as the focus on legal research and writing, CLTE, moot courts, great elective courses, and also told of her internship and learning experiences at US courts in Michigan and Louisiana. She encouraged everyone to help each other, improve their competitive advantage, cherish the learning opportunities and resources, and strive to improve their abilities. International student representative Jakub Olechowski expressed his gratitude to CESL and his expectations for life at the Law School. The 2019 double master’s students expressed their yearning for a new life with the start of the new semester and the requirements for a life of studying. In her speech, the doctoral student representative Nadila expressed her love for France and her expectations for her future doctoral career. She hopes that everyone will cherish their time and realize their dreams at CESL. Yang Bowen, a MEIL student, introduced his relationship with Fuda in a humorous way. In the next year's study time, he will advance his legal English with his classmates and study European and international law. The students’ speeches expressed their own opinions and told their true feelings from different angles, which aroused the resonance of the students.
The host, Assistant Professor Prusinowska, encourages everyone to help each other, communicate more, and she talked about the differences in culture, and that differences are only that. She hopes that everyone will exchange more on grounds of mutual respect and mutual learning, rejecting prejudice and being accepting of different cultures. She encouraged students to keep an open attitude and proposed communications to start with greetings and that everyone should take the first step.
Finally, Professor Liu Fei, the Chinese Co-Dean, delivered a speech in both Chinese and English. He introduced the general situation of the CESL and the curriculum for foreign students, and introduced the international students to promote mutual understanding. After any difficulties in communication between Chinese students and foreign students, he encouraged everyone to face the challenges brought, study hard, solve communication problems, and promote their own improvement. After that, he reminded the students to guard against arrogance. In the context of CESL, which is a group of outstanding students from various places, we must try our best to work hard. He mentioned the two points that graduate students should always keep in mind. The first is to strive to improve their academic and legal English. Seize the opportunity and resources. The second is to actively learn the content of the professional courses. The difference between graduate students and undergraduates lies in the initiative of learning, and graduate students should actively study and study. He introduced China's current need for a large number of legal talents who have the ability to independently handle foreign-related legal affairs. He reminded students to maintain their enthusiasm and initiative in academics. He said "young life is hard work" and encouraged everyone to strive for competitiveness, cherish time and study hard. Professor Liu Fei’s words received applause and gave everyone a novel understanding of how to consider graduate studies.
The Opening Ceremony was warmly welcomed by the new students. Everyone together created a very pleasant atmosphere. The students harvested the professor’s messages, the advice of the seniors, and their expectations. They have a bright future. But "If you want to wear a crown, you must bear the heavy weight." Since they have chosen this hard road, they will have to endure the wind and rain. We wish all the incoming students of the 2019 China-EU School of Law the best and hope they to achieve great things.
Original Chinese Text: Shen Xinyu (CESL double master student)
Photography: Lu Yunkai
