The 3rd “Forum for Deans on Legal Education in Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and Macau”, organized by the Faculty of Law of Macau University of Science and Technology (M.U.S.T.) and supported by the Macau University of Science and Technology Foundation, was held ceremoniously in the auditorium N101, Block N, at 9:30 a.m. on April 26, 2024. The theme of this forum is to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland and to discuss “One Country, Two Systems” and legal education in the new era. As an important part of the 24th Anniversary Celebration Events of M.U.S.T. and the 24th Anniversary Celebrations of the Faculty of Law, the forum invited deans of law schools and scholars from the Chinese Mainland, Macau, and Portugal to gather at M.U.S.T., communicating based on three topics: “One Country, Two Systems” and legal education, the cultivation of foreign-related legal talents, and legal education in the context of artificial intelligence.
The forum invited the following distinguished guests: Professor Ding Peng, Dean of Inner Mongolia University Law School; Professor Du Yu, Dean of Fudan University Law School; Professor Guo Zongjie, Vice Dean of Jinan University Law School/Intellectual Property School; Professor Hao Lei, Dean of the School of Law of Tianjin Normal University; Professor Hu Ming, Dean of Zhejiang University Guanghua Law School; Professor Huang Wenyi, Dean of Renmin University of China Law School; Associate Professor Li Hongjiang, Course Director of the School of Law of City University of Macau; Professor Liang Yingxiu, Dean of Beijing Normal University Law School; Associate Professor Liu Zhewei, Vice Dean of Peking University Law School; Professor Miao Lianying, Dean of the Law School of Zhengzhou University; Professor Tong Io Cheng, Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of Macau; Professor Xiong Wei, Dean of the Law School of Shenzhen University; Professor Zhang Liang, Dean of the School of Law of Sun Yat-sen University (listed in alphabetical order by surname). Special guests included Professor Eduardo Vera-Cruz Pinto, Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon in Portugal, and Professor Fernando Loureiro Bastos, Director of the Academic Cooperation Center of the same school.
Figure I
The officiating guests took a group photo with the participating deans.
The guests co-officiated at the opening ceremony include: Mr. Huang Wenjun, Deputy Director of the Legal Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region; Ms. Leong Weng In, Director of the Legal Affairs Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region; Mr. Teng Sio Hong, Deputy Director of the Education and Youth Development Bureau of Macao SAR; Mr. Vong Hin Fai, Representative of National People’s Congress, Member of the Committee for the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region under the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and President of the Council of the Macau Lawyers Association; Lawyer Lei Wun Kong, Member of the Committee for the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region under the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and Member of Advisory Committee of the Faculty of Law of M.U.S.T.; Dr. Aliana Leong, Associate Vice President of M.U.S.T.; and Fang Quan, Dean of the Faculty of Law.
Figure II
Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for Distinguished Guests
(From left: Lawyer Lei Wun Kong, President Vong Hin Fai, Director Leong Weng In, Deputy Minister Huang Wenjun, Deputy Director Teng Sio Hong, Associate Vice President Aliana Leong, and Dean Fang Quan)
In his speech, Mr. Teng Sio Hong, Deputy Director of the Education and Youth Development Bureau of Macao SAR, mentioned that the Government of Macao attaches great importance to cultivating talents in the legal profession and legal popularization work. They are following the deployment of the “14th Five-Year Plan” for high-quality education development and rule of law construction strategy. The government is committed to promoting legal education and legal research work, strengthening the training of legal talents, and striving to cultivate a team of legal talents that adapt to social needs, have professional qualities, and possess a solid legal foundation. The forum brought together experts and scholars from the Chinese Mainland, Portugal, and Macao. It is expected that the universities of Macao and participants can learn from each other through this legal seminar event, strengthen exchanges and future cooperation, and jointly promote new developments in legal education. This will contribute more to high-quality rule of law construction and talent training.
Figure III
Mr. Teng Sio Hong, Deputy Director of the Education and Youth Development Bureau of Macao SAR, delivered a speech.
On behalf of M.U.S.T., Associate Vice President Aliana Leong welcomed the guests and deans. In her speech, she emphasized that the university upholds the school motto of “Dedication to practical studies, Enhancement of knowledge, Ability, and Quality”. With support from all sectors of society and the efforts of teachers, students, and staff, it has rapidly developed into the largest comprehensive university in Macau. Among them, the Faculty of Law was one of the four founding faculties when the Macau University of Science and Technology was established. Over the years, it has evolved into an indispensable and significant force in the construction of the rule of law in Macau. The University encourages the Faculty of Law to prioritize both teaching and research, leverage the unique characteristics of the Macao SAR Law School, and nurture more cross-disciplinary legal talents who have a strong affinity for the country and Macao, integrating them into the overall development of the country and the construction of the Greater Bay Area. To coincide with the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the National Day and the 25th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland, the Faculty of Law organized the 3rd Forum for Deans. This event brought together deans from various law schools to collectively discuss the advancement of legal education in the new era under “One Country, Two Systems”. Additionally, she expressed anticipation for the participants to share their experiences and contribute their expertise to the cultivation of legal talents with integrity and competence.
Figure IV
Speech by Associate Vice President Aliana Leong of M.U.S.T.
Figure V
Dean Fang Quan presented a souvenir to the dean of the first unit of the forum.
(From left: Dean Liang Yingxiu, Dean Tong Io Cheng, Dean Fang Quan, Dean Eduardo Vera-Cruz Pinto, Dean Miao Lianying, and Dean Xiong Wei)
Figure VI
Dean Fang Quan presented a souvenir to the dean of the second unit of the forum.
(From left: Dean Ding Peng, Dean Du Yu, Dean Fang Quan, Dean Huang Wenyi, Vice Dean Liu Zhewei, Vice Dean Guo Zongjie)
Figure VII
Dean Fang Quan presented a souvenir to the dean of the third unit of the forum.
(From left: Dean Zhang Liang, Dean Hu Ming, Dean Fang Quan, Dean Hao Lei, Course Director Li Hongjiang)
At the opening ceremony of the forum, the signing ceremony of the friendship agreement between the Faculty of Law of M.U.S.T. and the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon in Portugal was solemnly held. Professor Fang Quan, Dean of the Faculty of Law of M.U.S.T., and Professor Eduardo Vera-Cruz Pinto, Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon in Portugal, respectively signed the cooperation agreement on behalf of the faculties. Vice Minister Huang Wenjun, Director Leong Weng In, Deputy Director Ding Teng Sio Hong, Associate Vice President Aliana Leong, and Director Fernando Loureiro Bastos witnessed the signing ceremony.
Figure VIII
Signing guests from left: Dean Fang Quan, Dean Eduardo Vera-Cruz Pinto
Witnessing guests from left: Associate Vice President Aliana Leong, Deputy Director Teng Sio Hong, Deputy Minister Huang Wenjun, Director Leong Weng In, and Director Fernando Loureiro Bastos.
This forum consists of three units. The theme of the first unit is: “One Country, Two Systems” and Legal Education. It is hosted by Dean Tong Io Cheng of the Faculty of Law of the University of Macau. In this session, Dean Fang Quan of the Faculty of Law of M.U.S.T. shared her experience and feelings about implementing “One Country, Two Systems” in legal higher education in Macao SAR. Dean Liang Yingxiu of Beijing Normal University Law School discussed the current situation of cultivating foreign-related legal talents in the Chinese Mainland and proposed future development prospects. Dean Miao Lianying of the Law School of Zhengzhou University shared insights on goal positioning and path selection in legal education. Dean Xiong Wei of the Law School of Shenzhen University analyzed the implementation mechanism of legal education resource sharing in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. Dean Eduardo Vera-Cruz Pinto of the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon in Portugal shared his insights on the topic Universal Dimension of Legal Teaching: When Legal Culture and Juridical Science Meet in the Classroom. Program Director Mou Xiaobo from the Faculty of Law of M.U.S.T. served as the unit speaker.
Figures IX to XVI
1st Unit of Forum: “One Country, Two Systems” and Legal Education
(From top left: Dean Tong Io Cheng, Dean Fang Quan, Dean Liang Yingxiu, Dean Miao Lianying; from bottom left: Dean Xiong Wei, Dean Eduardo Vera-Cruz Pinto, Program Director Mou Xiaobo)
The theme of the second unit of the forum is: Cultivation of foreign-related legal talents, and it is hosted by Dean Liang Yingxiu of Beijing Normal University Law School. In this session, Dean Huang Wenyi of Renmin University of China Law School shared his thoughts and explorations on cultivating foreign-related legal talents, using the practice of Renmin University as an example. Dean Du Yu of Fudan University Law School also shared his thoughts and explorations on cultivating foreign-related legal talents, using Fudan’s practice as an example. Vice Dean Liu Zhewei of Peking University Law School compared Peking University’s experience in cultivating foreign-related legal talents with the two wings in full strength. Dean Ding Peng of Inner Mongolia University Law School shared the construction of an innovation base for collaborative training of foreign-related legal talents at Inner Mongolia University. Professor Guo Zongjie, Vice President of Jinan University Law School and Director of the School of Intellectual Property, shared his experience in cultivating outstanding foreign-related legal talents using Jinan's practice as an example. Program Director Xie Gengliang of the Faculty of Law of M.U.S.T. served as the unit speaker.
Figures XVII to XXIV
2nd Unit of Forum: Cultivating Foreign-Related Legal Talents
(From top left: Dean Liang Yingxiu, Dean Huang Wenyi, Dean Du Yu, Vice Dean Liu Zhewei; from bottom left: Dean Ding Peng, Vice Dean Guo Zongjie, Program Director Xie Gengliang)
The theme of the third unit of the forum is: Legal Education in the Context of Artificial Intelligence, hosted by Assistant Dean Yi Zaicheng of the Faculty of Law of M.U.S.T. In this session, Dean Hu Ming of Zhejiang University Guanghua Law School discussed legal education in the digital era; Dean Zhang Liang of the School of Law of Sun Yat-sen University talked about the collaborative training mechanism for foreign-related legal talents; Dean Hao Lei of the School of Law of Tianjin Normal University shared the practical exploration of cultivating legal talents in Tianjin using the approach of “Innovative + Composite + Applied”; Course director Li Hongjiang of the School of Law of City University of Macau shared insights on cultivating cross-jurisdictional talents under “One Country, Two Systems”. Program director Bi Jingwei of the Faculty of Law of M.U.S.T. served as the unit speaker.
Figures XXV to XXX
3rd Unit of Forum: Legal Education in the Context of Artificial Intelligence
(From top left: Assistant Dean Yi Zaicheng, Dean Hu Ming, Dean Zhang Liang, from lower left: Dean Hao Lei, Course Director Li Hongjiang, Program Director Bi Jingwei)
At the end of the forum, Dean Fang Quan of the Faculty of Law of M.U.S.T. delivered a closing speech. She expressed appreciation to the deans of all law schools for their trust and support. This forum coincided with the Double Celebration period, and guests gathered in Haojiang (the former name of Macau) to have in-depth discussions and exchanges on “One Country, Two Systems” and the new developments, challenges, and strategies of legal education in the new era. Since Macao’s return, under the guidance and protection of the Constitution and the Basic Law, the practice of “One Country, Two Systems” has been steadily implemented in the Macao SAR. Legal education and legal theory research bear the glorious mission of cultivating high-quality legal talents and providing scientific theoretical support for the construction of a rule-of-law in China. She looked forward to continuing to strengthen ties, deepen friendships, and coordinate development with various law schools in the future.
Figure XXXI
Dean Fang Quan delivered the closing speech.
Mr. Wang Xiao, a fourth-level researcher from the Legal Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region, along with nearly 400 other off-campus guests, teachers and students of the Faculty of Law, attended the forum.
Figure XXXII
A Group Photo of the Entire Audience
