Decisions on CESL Scholarships for 2012 Chinese Master of Law students are now finalised. Scholarships were divided into four categories: Premium 20,000 yuan (5%), first 17,000 yuan (10%), second 11,000 yuan (20%), and third 7,000 yuan (45%).

Decisions were based on rankings in the CESL Entrance Examinations, which took place on September 25, 2011, for students who were recommended by their place of undergraduate students and were therefore exempt from the National Graduate Admissions Examination (NGAE), and on April 12 and 13, 2012, for students who had first taken the NGAE.

Preference was given to students whose first choice was CESL. An additional point was added to their scores and Third Class scholarships were awarded for scores of 60.5 or above. Students who transferred their application to CESL after the NGAE, with scores of 70.9 and above, were also awarded Third Class Scholarships.

Any comments on scholarship decisions should be sent to: admission_cesl@cupl.edu.cn by May 22, 2012.

Li Shuguang, professor at the China University of Politics and Law and director of the Bankruptcy Law and Restructuring Research Center, gave a lecture on Law in Transitional Economies on May 10, 2012. The lecture is part of the Legal Philosophy and Interdisciplinary studies series. Zheng Yongliu, who established this lecture series, chaired.

Li talked about the different types of economic transitions. He asked the question “What is the power behind economic transition?” Li cited Arnold Toynbee, Douglass North, the Coase Theorem, Max Weber, and Friedrich Hayek. He looked at the relationship between law, economic transition and economic growth. Asking the question: What laws cannot be omitted in economic transition? In answer to this question Li gave four areas: a system for defining property rights, contract protection, market signals, and credit protection. “Law cannot solve all problems,” Li said, "but there is no substitute for basic laws”.

CESL students participated in the 37th CUPL Sports Day on April 22 and 23, 2012. This year is also the 60th Anniversary of CUPL and the sports day was the biggest in history. It is also the first time CESL international students competed. In total 30 students, both Chinese and international, participated. Coraline Goron took first place in the 3000m, Liu Yanzhou first in the heptathlon and second in the 200m.

The full results are as follows:

The full report is available in Chinese here.

On January 1, 2012, CESL advertised for a new member of the administrative staff on the CUPL human resources website and the China Education Online website.

On March 21, 155 candidates took part in a written exam, organised by the CUPL human resources department, testing administrative ability. The 148 candidates who were successful in the first examination were interviewed on March 31 and April 1, 2012.

On April 26, CESL established an examination committee comprising Co-dean Fang Liufang, Director of the CUPL Department of Human Resources Wu Ping and CESL Professor Hao Qian. Professor Hao stood in for CESL Co-dean Thomas Bruha, who was unable to attend. Based on the results of the first examination, four candidates were selected to attend a second CESL examination.

Examinations were evaluated as follows:

The examination committee will evaluate candidates based on the written examination, the oral and the interview. Final decisions will be published on May 18, 2012.

CESL held the admissions examination for LLM and JM students on April 12 and 13, 2012. The examination was held at the CUPL campus and included: English listening (10%), legal analysis (25%) and an interview (15%). The first National Graduate Admissions Examination (NGAE) counted for 50% of the overall mark. A total of 127 students took part, including 18 for the JM and 109 for the LLM.

Admissions were completed on April 20, 2012. CESL offered places to 91 applicants. A total of 110 students have now been offered places to study at CESL in autumn 2012. Nineteen students who were recommended by their place of undergraduate studies, and who had therefore had the NGAE waived, had already been offered places. The 110 students come from 44 different universities in 24 cities. This includes 73.6% from 211 and 985 universities.

Final results were as follows:

Thirty-three students, who transferred their applications from other universities to CESL for the CESL entrance examination, and who had an overall score of 69.25% or higher.