Lums and Wuhan University Sign a Historic Mou

The Shaikh Ahmad Hassan Law School (SAHSOL), Lahore University of Management Sciences and School of Law, Wuhan University (SLWU), recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote mutual collaboration through academic, cultural and personal exchanges. On behalf of LUMS, the MoU was signed by Prof. Dr. S. Sohail H. Naqvi, Vice Chancellor, LUMS and Dr. Martin Lau and on behalf of SLWU, Prof. Dr. Feng Guo, Dean, SLWU and Prof. Dr. Huang Zhixiong, Deputy Dean, International Affairs, SLWU, signed the document.

According to the MOU, SAHSOL shall establish a Centre of Chinese Legal Studies (CCLS) on its premises for research in and the promotion and teaching of Chinese legal studies. SLWU will assist CCLS by facilitating the exchange of teaching and research personnel and students, as well as by arranging visiting faculty to SAHSOL to teach Chinese law courses, to conduct training seminars, and to participate or attend conferences and symposia on the Chinese legal system at SAHSOL. SLWU will also provide other forms of collaborative assistance to CCLS, which is not limited to but shall include, the provision of books, manuscripts and other research and reference materials.

The CCLS and SLWU aim to build academic capacity within Pakistan for the study of and the teaching of introductory and advanced courses on Chinese Law. The Law Schools agree to commence a Law Course at SAHSOL titled ‘Introduction to the Chinese Legal System’ in the academic year of 2018-2019, which would be subject to funding and to academic approval by LUMS.

The Law Schools agreed to train a team of Pakistani academic staff who have the capacity to competently teach Chinese Law in all relevant areas of concern for Pakistan, including on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the One Belt and One Road Initiative. In principle, and subject to funding, the Law Schools agree that such academics will be trained at leading Chinese universities for the duration of a semester or two semesters.

Meanwhile, SAHSOL will organise seminars and symposia on the Chinese legal system, for the purpose of creating awareness that will ensure the development of adequate academic staff resources for teaching and for assisting the initiation of further Chinese law courses in Pakistan.

Furthermore, CCLS and SLWU aim to facilitate an exchange programme for Pakistani students and teachers with leading law schools in China; CCLS will serve as the administrative hub for such activity.

This MoU will definitely bring benefits to both institutions, as well as allow LUMS to play an important part in the upcoming combined economic interaction between the two countries.