In their internationalisation policies, both law schools have addressed the aim of having a more international student body and strengthening the international character of their law schools. Especially in the field of Law, it is of the utmost value to have a diverse body of students and staff with different legal backgrounds so that they can learn from each other. This gives them the opportunity to reflect on their own legal system in a new way.

Leiden Law School also intends to further improve international staff mobility. This project will enable colleagues to teach a group of students with a background in Chinese law, to personally meet and exchange views with colleagues in their respective fields and to conduct research from a comparative perspective.

This mobility project provides opportunities for Shandong Law School students and Leiden Law School staff to boost their professional skills and knowledge. The project would be highly beneficial both in terms of their personal and professional development and their cultural understanding. This experience will be an opportunity to develop skills highly appreciated by employers, such as adaptability, language competences and autonomy. It will be highly enriching for Shandong students, especially since a large number of Shandong graduates are working abroad, as well as for multinational companies in Qingdao, China. The presence of Shandong students in Leiden will also encourage Leiden students to study at Shandong Law School and thus discover Qingdao, a city which is still little known by students from the Netherlands.

Internationalisation at Shandong University

Internationalisation, which has been adopted as a national strategic policy, is at the heart of the Shandong Province, and the city of Qingdao as well as Shandong University Law School., Shandong Law School has initiated many activities aimed at stimulating internationalisation. The excellent ties with the city of Qingdao are a considerable help n achieving these internationalisation goals. For historical reasons, Qingdao has very strong connections with European countries, particularly Germany, as well as with Japan and South Korea. Against this backdrop, Shandong University has a very unique advantage over other Chinese law schools in terms of preparing students, teachers, and staff to meet the challenges of a globalised world. Leiden Law School has been cooperating with Shandong University Law School since 2016.  Both institutions have striven to work together in student exchange and staff visits, sharing the internationalisation-centred policy and cutting-edge research across the full breadth of the law.

Law School Project

In the case of Leiden Law School, the dedication to strengthening ties with Chinese partner universities is illustrated by the many mutual visits by deans and other staff, as well as by the establishment of guest professorships and the increasing number of Chinese first-, second- or third-cycle students finding their way to Leiden Law School. Establishing a cooperation agreement with a good law school that is located in one of the new tiered cities was also a strategic choice. During a previous ICM project, Leiden staff taught a summer course at Shandong University (Summer 2019). This course will now be included in the regular curriculum of Shandong Law School.

Priority country for collaboration

Leiden University has developed a strategic long-term collaboration policy for a small number of priority countries/regions, one of which is China. The goal is to strengthen cooperation and establish structural relationships with universities, organisations and governmental bodies in these priority regions. Recognising the rapid development and internationalisation of Chinese universities and the quality of academic education and research in China, Leiden University actively seeks to establish a strategic and sustainable university-wide partnership programme of long-term teaching and research collaboration. This University-wide Programme for Cooperation with China (2015-2020) is based on the principles of excellence and reciprocity. In this programme, Shandong University has been designated as one of these strategic partners.