From June 28 to July 25, five students and one graduate from the School of Law at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP) participated in the Summer Camp on Chinese Political and Legal Culture, an annual program organized by East China University of Political Science and Law (ECUPL) in Shanghai. ECUPL is one of China’s earliest higher education institutions specializing in political science and law.
This marked the fifth time that PUCP representatives have participated in the program, under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the two universities in 2018. In this edition, five members of the Faculty of Law received scholarships to take part in the program: Paula Echegaray, Fiorella Quispe, Giacomo Ricaldi, Juan Diego Rojas, and María Paula García.
Over the four-week program, participants explored different aspects of Chinese law through classes and academic activities. They also joined participants from other countries in a presentation on the Peruvian legal system, providing an opportunity to exchange knowledge and experiences from diverse legal and cultural perspectives. In addition, they took introductory Mandarin classes, visited courts and law firms and explored various tourist attractions across the city.
Prof. Diego Zegarra Valdivia, Head of the School of Law’s Office for Academic Internationalization, and Rubén Tang, Head of the Asia Relations Office at PUCP’s Office of Institutional Relations (DARI), highlighted the value of these programs as opportunities for students to gain meaningful academic and intercultural experiences. They emphasized that initiatives of this kind allow students to gain first-hand knowledge of the Chinese legal system, develop a comparative perspective on law and strengthen their professional outlook in an increasingly international environment.
The selected students also highlighted how the experience broadened their understanding of law while strengthening their international perspective on the profession. For Paula Echegaray, one of the most valuable aspects of the program was the opportunity to engage directly with a new legal and professional environment.
During the Shanghai Summer Program at East China University of Political Science and Law, I had the opportunity to explore topics such as international trade, the Chinese legal system and other subjects that helped me better understand how law, economics and culture interact in a global context.
Paula EchegarayFiorella Quispe, meanwhile, highlighted the value of the program as an opportunity to engage with Chinese law and culture from an international perspective.
The Summer Camp is exceptionally well organized. ECUPL offers very interesting courses and activities led by specialists in Chinese law and culture, making it highly recommended for students interested in China. It also creates a strong community of support and friendship among professors, organizers, and students. It is a great opportunity to broaden your horizons and return to Peru with projects that can contribute to your professional growth.
Giacomo Ricaldi also emphasized the importance of building connections with professionals in the legal field and gaining a deeper understanding of the context in which the Chinese legal system operates, particularly given China’s growing relationship with Peru.
I believe that, given the growing presence of Chinese investments and projects in Peru, it is increasingly important for law students to understand the Chinese legal system and its impact on our economic and commercial relations.
Giacomo RicaldiJuan Diego Rojas highlighted the value of interacting with students from different countries and gaining exposure to other realities throughout the program.
Programs like this broaden any law student’s perspective, strengthen the skills needed to navigate an increasingly globalized environment, and reaffirm the importance of fostering academic ties between Peru and China.
Juan Diego RojasFinally, María Paula García highlighted how the experience influenced the way she approaches law and shaped her professional interests.
Getting to know Chinese culture and its relationship with law firsthand transformed the way I analyze other legal systems. It allowed me to discover a reality that is often perceived differently from the outside and to appreciate the efficiency of its institutions and their forward-looking approach. In a context of growing cooperation between Peru and China, this experience strengthened my interest in continuing to develop professionally in the legal field and exploring new opportunities for professional training.
María Paula GarcíaThrough initiatives such as this, PUCP continues to strengthen its international academic partnerships and promote opportunities that allow students to expand their legal education through academic and intercultural exchange, while gaining first-hand insight into different legal systems and professional environments.
