From October 12 to 24, 2026, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) KoGuan School of Law and the Faculty of Law & Justice at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) jointly hosted the 2026 Chinese Law Program. Led by Dr. Lu Wang, Lecturer at UNSW Law & Justice and a core member of the Centre for International Commercial and Economic Law (CIBEL), the program brought together 40 students for two weeks of academic learning and professional engagement. Combining classroom instruction with visits to legal institutions, the program offered participants valuable insights into China's legal system and opportunities for cross-cultural exchange.

The academic component featured ten English-taught lectures covering Chinese Law and Development, Internet Law and Ethics, Chinese Dispute Resolution, Foreign Trade Law, Company Law, Competition Law, Securities Law, Contemporary Issues in Chinese Law and Practice, Foreign Investment Law, and Intellectual Property Law. Together, these courses provided a broad overview of China's legal framework while addressing contemporary issues such as the digital economy and China's growing engagement with the global economy. Drawing on their academic expertise, the lecturers connected legal developments and statutory provisions with practical cases, encouraging students to examine China's evolving legal system from multiple perspectives and explore the relationship between law and socioeconomic development.

Emphasizing the integration of theory and practice, the program extended learning beyond the classroom through visits to the Shanghai Pudong New Area People's Court, Shanghai Sunhold Law Firm, Hylands Law Firm, and the Shanghai International Arbitration Center. These visits introduced students to different aspects of China's legal practice, from court proceedings and commercial dispute adjudication to cross-border legal services and international commercial arbitration. Through firsthand observation and discussions with legal professionals, participants gained a deeper understanding of how China's legal institutions operate in practice.

Beyond academic and professional activities, the program created opportunities for meaningful exchanges between students from the two universities. Two postgraduate students from KoGuan School of Law joined the UNSW participants for an informal discussion about legal education, career choices, and student life in China. Conversations ranged from classroom experiences and professional aspirations to everyday life on campus and in Shanghai. The friendly exchange brought students from different backgrounds closer together, offering an opportunity to share perspectives and build connections across cultures.

As the program drew to a close, participants enjoyed an evening cruise along the Huangpu River. With historic waterfront buildings on one side and Shanghai's modern skyline on the other, the cruise offered a memorable glimpse of the city's unique blend of tradition and modernity. The illuminated riverfront provided a fitting conclusion to two weeks of learning and discovery, leaving students with lasting memories of both Chinese law and the vibrant city of Shanghai.

Since 2010, KoGuan School of Law and UNSW Law & Justice have maintained a longstanding partnership through the Chinese Law Summer Program. Over more than a decade, the program has drawn on KoGuan School of Law's academic strengths and Shanghai's extensive legal resources to develop an educational experience integrating academic lectures, professional visits, and cultural immersion. It has become an important platform for sustained student exchanges and closer cooperation in legal education between the two institutions.

Looking ahead, KoGuan School of Law will continue to strengthen its international Chinese law education programs and expand academic partnerships with leading law schools worldwide. Through international dialogue and collaborative learning, the School remains committed to sharing insights into China's legal development, fostering mutual understanding between legal traditions, and contributing to the education of globally minded legal professionals with knowledge of multiple legal systems.