To further strengthen its framework for cultivating foreign-related legal talent and enhance students' competence in international law and cross-border legal practice, KoGuan School of Law, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, has made high-level overseas study programs a regular component of its educational offerings. This summer's international organizations study program focused on the international rule of law, global trade, intellectual property, international humanitarian law, workers' rights, sustainable development, and other key fields. The delegation visited leading international organizations and participated in a series of advanced seminars, bringing together academic study, institutional visits, and scholarly exchange. The delegation was led by Associate Professor Zhang Guobin, Assistant Dean, with Yin Lan, Deputy Director of the International Office, providing program support throughout the trip. Participants were mainly lower-year undergraduates from the Foreign-Related Rule of Law Program and the Experimental Law Program. Held from July 11 to 20, 2026, the program comprised two stages—Geneva and Vienna—and included visits to a number of leading international organizations.

On the morning of July 13, the delegation visited the World Trade Organization (WTO). The students attended welcoming remarks by WTO Deputy Director-General Johanna Hill and a lecture on "Trade for Peace" delivered by the WTO's Accessions Division, gaining a systematic understanding of the WTO's operating mechanisms and the international trade governance framework.

Figure 1. The delegation with WTO Deputy Director-General Johanna Hill

That afternoon, Associate Counsel Olga Falgueras del Alamo of the Advisory Centre on WTO Law (ACWL) guided the students through landmark WTO dispute-settlement cases. The session brought them face to face with current practice in international trade dispute resolution and sharpened their understanding of the rules and practical considerations governing foreign-related disputes.

Figure 2. The delegation at the ACWL building

On the morning of July 14, the delegation visited the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), where SJTU alumnus Ting Zhao, Director of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Operations Division, delivered a special lecture. He outlined WIPO's central role and evolving agenda in global intellectual property governance, discussed the core competencies and career pathways of international civil servants, and conducted mock interview exercises. The session helped students better understand the professional expectations of international organizations and strengthen their readiness for international careers.

Figure 3. The delegation with Ting Zhao, Director of WIPO's PCT Operations Division

Figure 4. Officials from WIPO's PCT Operations Division conduct mock interviews with the students

Turning to international humanitarian law and humanitarian governance, the delegation attended a specialized seminar at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) that afternoon. Jacqueline Rhona Fernandez, an Asia-Pacific department head and communications lead at the ICRC, introduced the international humanitarian assistance system and the core rules of international humanitarian law. The seminar gave students a closer view of humanitarian governance in practice and broadened the scope of their foreign-related legal studies.

Figure 5. The delegation outside the ICRC building

Before the ICRC visit, Mao Xiao—a KoGuan Law School Rhodes Scholar and an alumna currently working at the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs—was in Geneva on assignment and made a special trip to meet the students at their accommodation. She offered a detailed account of career paths into international organizations and the realities of day-to-day work. She encouraged the students to build a strong professional foundation, develop a broader global perspective, take an active part in global governance, and demonstrate the commitment of young legal professionals on the international stage.

Figure 6. KoGuan Law School Rhodes Scholar and alumna Mao Xiao meets with the delegation

On the morning of July 15, the delegation attended a specialized training session at UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Gul Unal, Project Manager in the Division on International Trade and Commodities, and Project Officer Dong Wu gave a systematic introduction to UNCTAD's work in advancing equitable and inclusive global trade and narrowing the development gap between the Global North and South. Their presentation centered on trade equality, inclusive trade-led growth in developing countries, and related issues.

Figure 7. The delegation attends a lecture at UNCTAD

After the session, the delegation toured the Palais des Nations and dined at a UN staff restaurant. This gave the students a close-up view of the day-to-day atmosphere within a multilateral institution, opportunities to speak with international civil servants from different countries, and a direct sense of the diverse and inclusive working environment of international organizations.

Figure 8. The delegation outside the Palais des Nations in Geneva

On the afternoon of July 15, the delegation visited the Geneva office of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and took part in a seminar titled "Collaboration among International Organizations for Sustainable Development." The students engaged in lively discussions with five UNEP officials, including Claudia Schiavelli, Marianna Bolshakova, and Yvonne Ewang-Sanvincenti of the Geneva Environment Network. Topics included green trade, the environmental rights and interests of developing countries, and how foreign-related legal professionals can contribute to shaping global environmental rules. The cross-border dialogue broadened their perspectives on international law.

Figure 9. The delegation takes part in a seminar at UNEP's Geneva office

On the morning of July 16, the delegation visited the headquarters of the International Labour Organization (ILO) for a specialized training session. The Head of the ILO Archives delivered a lecture on "The International Legal Framework for the Protection of Labour Rights," tracing the ILO's century-long history, the system of core labour conventions, and global mechanisms for advancing decent work. The lecture also examined the formulation of labour standards, the coordination of cross-border labour-rights disputes, and worker protection in global supply chains. Faculty and students later dined at the ILO cafeteria, experiencing firsthand the Organization's culture of equality and inclusion and gaining a deeper appreciation of the role of decent work in global governance.

Figure 10. The delegation at ILO headquarters

On July 17, the delegation arrived at the United Nations Office at Vienna and began with a visit to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Fredrik Dahl, an IAEA press and public information officer, held an in-depth discussion with the students on international cooperation in nuclear safety and related issues.

Figure 11. The delegation tours an IAEA exhibition hall

The delegation then attended a lecture by Yao Shenhong, Director of the Division of Strategic Planning and South-South Cooperation at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Focusing on UNIDO's frameworks for collaboration with major international institutions, he explained how UNIDO works with organizations such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to develop international technical standards for digital industry and artificial intelligence.

Figure 12. The delegation with Yao Shenhong, Director of UNIDO's Division of Strategic Planning and South-South Cooperation

At the conclusion of the program, a certificate presentation ceremony was held to review and consolidate the learning outcomes of the trip. Outside scheduled sessions, faculty and students also explored the host cities independently, broadening their international outlook through direct cross-cultural experience.

Figure 13. The delegation holds its completion ceremony at the United Nations Office at Vienna

By moving beyond the classroom, the program placed law students in direct contact with the practice of global governance and the working methods of international civil servants, while giving them a clearer understanding of the competencies expected of foreign-related legal professionals. Students said that face-to-face conversations with international organization officials had given them a fuller and more concrete understanding of international law in practice and of China's participation in multilateral governance. The experience further strengthened their ambition to pursue foreign-related legal work and contribute to global governance.

Ding Ding | Second-year student, Foreign-Related Rule of Law Program

"Walking into the buildings of international organizations I had previously seen only in the news made a once-distant "world" feel real and immediate. I realized that people truly do devote themselves every day to the shared goal of making the world better. This program broadened my horizons and, almost without my realizing it, led me to try many new things. WIPO's mock interview, for instance, was my first opportunity to experience the mindset and logic of an international workplace in practice. Once we turn ideas into action, we too can become a small part of meaningful change."

Zhang Liyuan | Second-year student, Foreign-Related Rule of Law Program

"This program helped me see more clearly that international organizations primarily provide platforms and support for their member states' decision-making. Their neutrality means that they cannot focus only on the interests of a single country; they must work from a broader global perspective in the common interest of humanity. I also became acutely aware of the gaps in my own abilities. I believe the harder we work, the luckier we become. Building strong English skills and a broad global outlook is a lifelong endeavor worth pursuing."

Xue Aiwen | Second-year student, Experimental Law Program

"Visiting so many international organizations during this program, I was struck by the strength and resilience of the rules that underpin them. Although the organizations have different mandates, they share a common underlying logic: channeling conflicts of interest into orderly procedures and using rules to contain disorder. Existing rules may be imperfect, but they offer stable expectations amid complexity. I am deeply grateful for this rare window into practice, which added an indispensable practical dimension to our understanding of how foreign-related rule of law works."

Ye Jianbin | First-year student, Experimental Law Program

"Over the past few days, we moved among international organizations and walked along the clear shores of Lake Geneva. At the WTO, I saw a Suzhou garden—a reflection of the Chinese wisdom of knowing when to say just enough and of conveying weighty meaning with measured words. I heard about the remarkably detailed weekly information bulletin published by WIPO—an expression of the meticulous professionalism of international organizations. At UNEP and the ICRC, I met warm and dedicated people who work with energy and communicate with kindness. Many of them have found their convictions in the long current of international affairs and lead deeply fulfilling lives. May we, too, find something to hold on to as we travel and reflect: attention to detail, breadth of vision, logic, sensitivity, generosity or kindness—and, above all, a conviction of our own."

This overseas study program forms part of KoGuan School of Law's regular practice-based training for foreign-related legal talent. Drawing on the resources of international organizations in Geneva and Vienna, the School will continue to build high-quality overseas experiential learning platforms, help young legal talent strengthen their professional foundations and international competence, and cultivate the next generation of professionals for China's foreign-related rule-of-law development.