"There is a very unique collaboration between the University of Helsinki and Peking University", stated Professor Ye Jingyi, Vice Chair of the University Council of Peking University when she visited the University of Helsinki on December 13, 2019.
The relationship between the two universities dates back to 1983, when a first bilateral agreement was established. In 2015, cooperation was boosted to a new level when a strategic partnership was formed. One of the strategic research projects focused on law.
"This collaboration has been very fruitful and has expanded to several fields of law", noted Professor Ulla Liukkunen, who is also the Director of the Finnish China Law Center.
"In labour law research, for instance, a new research approach to fundamental labour rights and their implementation in different legal-cultural contexts has been developed."
One of the new openings has been the PKU-Helsinki Life Science Summer School which kicked off in August 2019 and will be held in Beijing next year.
"This is more than a traditional summer school. It promotes recruitment on both sides and helps to build bridges at all levels. It’s very concrete cooperation that boosts the partnership and makes it even more sustainable", says Dr Erkki Raulo, Senior Advisor of doctoral education at the University of Helsinki.
To support the partnership, a renewed exchange agreement was signed during the meeting by Professor Ye Jingyi and Professor Hanna Snellman, Vice Rector at the University of Helsinki. The agreement includes free accommodation and a monthly scholarship for students, offered by the receiving university, and free accommodation for incoming teachers and researchers for visits up to two weeks per person. This special financial support highlights the importance of Peking University as a partner university to the University of Helsinki.