A delegation from Yunnan University School of Law in China visited Vermont Law School today, signing an agreement with VLS to collaborate on programs that will expand educational opportunities for students from both schools and promote exchange between faculty members.
The agreement includes, but is not limited to, collaboration on student and faculty exchanges and training programs, degree and certificate programs, joint legal research projects, and publications on environmental and energy law research and policy development.
"This partnership reflects our commitment to developing global leaders who will work together to achieve positive change for our environment," said Marc Mihaly, VLS president and dean. "We are proud to partner with Yunnan University and look forward to seeing students and faculty from both schools influence environmental law and policy, in China and elsewhere in the world."
The Yunnan University School of Law delegation was comprised of CHEN Yundong, dean of the law school; CAI Lei, associate dean; and faculty members QIU Yongsheng, NIE Yuxuan and ZHAO Zhonglong.
"We are pleased to collaborate with Yunnan University School of Law faculty and are eager to begin working with their students," said Siu Tip Lam, associate professor of law and director of the U.S.-Asia Partnerships for Environmental Law at VLS. "We likewise look forward to Vermont Law School students taking advantage of this unique opportunity to learn more about law and policy in China."
Vermont Law School, with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), launched the U.S.-Asia Partnerships for Environmental Law in 2006 to advance environmental governance and rule of law in China. In addition to receiving renewals of the USAID grant in 2009, 2012 and 2014, the U.S.-Asia Partnerships currently administers environmental advocacy programs in Beijing, Guangzhou and Kunming. For more information about the U.S.-Asia Partnerships for Environmental Law, including the Yunnan University School of Law partnership, visit www.vermontlaw.edu/us-asia, email china@vermontlaw.edu, or call 802-831-1342.
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Vermont Law School, a private, independent institution, is home to the nation's largest and deepest environmental law program. VLS offers a Juris Doctor curriculum that emphasizes public service; three Master's Degrees—Master of Environmental Law and Policy, Master of Energy Regulation and Law, and Master of Food and Agriculture Law and Policy; and four post-JD degrees —LLM in American Legal Studies (for foreign-trained lawyers), LLM in Energy Law, LLM in Environmental Law, and LLM in Food and Agriculture Law. The school features innovative experiential programs and is home to the Environmental Law Center, South Royalton Legal Clinic, Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic, Energy Clinic, Food and Agriculture Clinic, and Center for Applied Human Rights. For more information, visit www.vermontlaw.edu, find us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.