To execute a holistic, global, and unique development strategy and nurture legal professionals of the new era with international insights and a robust legal foundation, the Law School of Beijing Normal University in collaboration with the Law School of Tor Vergata University of Rome hosted a specialized English course titled "Fundamentals of European Private Law" from February 13 to March 16, 2023. The course featured five esteemed professors renowned in the domain of European private law from Tor Vergata University of Rome, University of Pisa, Sapienza University of Rome, and Tor Vergata University of Rome, who delivered nine scholarly lectures. These lectures provided a comprehensive overview of the evolution of European private law and shared the professors' pioneering academic thoughts. Over 360 students from more than 50 universities, including Beijing Normal University, Peking University, Renmin University of China, China University of Political Science and Law, University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Fudan University, Wuhan University, and Nankai University, enrolled in this enriching course.
A concise inaugural ceremony preceded the first lecture on February 13th, with Professor He Ting from the Law School of Beijing Normal University at the helm. Professor Liang Yingxiu, Dean of the Law School of Beijing Normal University, extended heartfelt thanks to the Italian contingent of professors, outlined the Law School's international exchange initiatives and the storied history of collaboration between the two institutions, and envisioned a future of enhanced cooperation. Professor Antonio Carratta, Dean of the Law School at the Tor Vergata University of Rome, conveyed profound appreciation to the Law School of Beijing Normal University for its robust backing of the online course and aspired to ongoing collaboration between Chinese and Italian academic institutions. Raffaello Girotto, the Legal Attaché of the Italian Embassy in China, offered congratulations on the successful initiation of the "Fundamentals of European Private Law" course. He noted that while in-person scholarly exchanges between Italy and China have waned in recent years, the mutual interest in legal research has only intensified. European law, deeply rooted in ancient Roman law, forms an integral part of both Italy's and the world's legal and cultural heritage. He expressed hope that the students would derive immense value from the course and extended a warm invitation for academic pursuits in Italy. Enrico Toti, the Italian coordinator for the course and a professor of Chinese law at the Department of Law of Tor Vergata University of Rome, highlighted the course's objective to impart a deeper understanding of the values and principles of Roman law, to broaden the students' knowledge of its history, and to equip them with tools beneficial for their legal education and professional advancement.
In the series of courses, Professor Enrico Toti discussed the origin and development of Roman law under the themes of "The Relevance of Roman Law" and "Roman Law and Contemporary Law", and explained how Roman law integrates into the modern European legal system from the dimensions of time and space. He also comprehensively and accurately expounded the close relationship between Roman law and Chinese civil law in conjunction with the promulgation of the Civil Code of the People's Republic of China.
Professor Aldo Petrucci from the Law Department of the University of Pisa compared and introduced the "atypical" and "typical" models of corporate law in Roman and modern societies. He believes that the universal model created by Roman law provides modern solutions for the development of corporate law.
Professor Sandro Schipani from the Law Department of the Sapienza University of Rome, who is hailed as the "Marco Polo of contemporary law" by the Chinese legal community, gave three lectures on the topic of "The Roman Civil Code and the Civil Code of the People's Republic of China". He provided a detailed introduction to the "Justinian Code" and the Chinese Civil Code during the heyday of Roman law, and commented on the formulation of China's Civil Code in conjunction with Roman law.
Professor Tommaso Dalla Massara from Tor Vergata University of Rome addressed the assembly with his presentation titled "The Roman Law Tradition as a New European Identifier: Five Essential Components for the Future." He posited that the cultural heritage of Roman law serves as a pivotal element in shaping European identity. Through an exposition of the five fundamental components of European legal culture, Professor Dalla Massara elucidated how the seminal concepts of private law from Roman jurisprudence continue to resonate and apply across the European continent.
Professor Riccardo Cardilli, Director of the Institute of Advanced International Studies and Director of the Eurasian Studies Center at Tor Vergata University of Rome, who has trained a large number of young legal talents for China, introduced the legal principles of Roman law and how they can be applied in modern legal contexts under the topic of "The Roman Legal Basis of Modern Private Law".
Professors Huang Feng, Hu Junhong, and Dr. Yang Chao from the Law School of Beijing Normal University, who have engaged in enduring exchange and collaboration with the Italian legal academia, also facilitated and took part in a array of lectures. The academic environment for this course was vibrant, with students actively engaging with the professors during the sessions. Upon the conclusion of the course, a total of 203 students fulfilled the attendance requirements and successfully passed the final evaluation, thereby receiving their graduation certificates.
The Law School of Beijing Normal University has consistently upheld a holistic approach to legal education, prioritizing it while actively broadening its international outreach. This English-taught course on "Fundamentals of European Private Law" has solidified our students' understanding of European private law, equipping them with a wider international perspective to enhance their legal proficiency. The ongoing collaboration between our university and the Italian law school has further cemented our long-standing tradition of exchange and cooperation. This partnership is of profound importance in advancing legal education and theoretical inquiry in the contemporary era, and it plays a crucial role in cultivating high-caliber legal professionals for the modernization of the rule of law with Chinese characteristics.