University of Saint Joseph and Sun Yat-sen University Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Deepen Cooperation in Law and Philosophy
University of Saint Joseph and Sun Yat-sen University Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Deepen Cooperation in Law and Philosophy
17
Jun
17/06/2025
The two institutions held a signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at Zhongshan Hall, South Campus of SYSU’s Guangzhou Campus, marking the official launch of cooperation in the fields of law and philosophy.
On 11 June, 2025, a delegation from the University of Saint Joseph (USJ), led by Rector Professor Stephen Morgan, visited Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU). The two institutions held a signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at Zhongshan Hall, South Campus of SYSU’s Guangzhou Campus, marking the official launch of cooperation in the fields of law and philosophy.
At the visit, Professor Gao Song, President of SYSU and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, delivered a welcome address, highlighting SYSU’s academic achievements and development goals. Professor Stephen Morgan, Rector of USJ, introduced USJ and emphasised the significance of this collaboration in promoting academic exchanges between Macao and Mainland China. In the presence of representatives from both institutions, President Gao and Rector Morgan signed the institutional-level MoU. Subsequently, Professor Zhang Liang, Dean of SYSU’s Law School, and Associate Professor Ansoumane Douty DIAKITÉ, Head of USJ’s Department of Law and Public Policy, signed an MOU specific to cooperation in law. Additionally, preparations for an MOU between SYSU’s Department of Philosophy and USJ’s Faculty of Religious Studies and Philosophy have officially begun.
Following the ceremony, both parties engaged in in-depth discussions on collaboration in law and philosophy. Representatives from SYSU’s Law School introduced its research strengths in constitutional law, international law, and intellectual property law, proposing enhanced cooperation in legal studies related to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area. USJ representatives shared their institution’s expertise in transnational legal research and practice. In the field of philosophy, both sides explored potential cooperation in Chinese philosophy, Western philosophy, and ethics.
The signing of these MOUs lays a solid foundation for future academic exchanges and talent development between the two institutions. Both parties plan to further advance cooperation in law and philosophy through student exchanges, joint research, and academic activities.
The USJ delegation included Vice-Rector Dr. Teresa Loong, Associate Professor Ansoumane Douty DIAKITÉ, Head of the Department of Law and Public Policy, Assistant Professor Cai Yilun, Research Coordinator for the Faculty of Religious Studies and Philosophy, and Mr. Yang Chengdong, Head of the Office of University Development.
SYSU was represented by Professor Zhang Liang, Dean of the Law School, Associate Professor Shen Yuping, Deputy Head of the Department of Philosophy, and Mr. Yu Bojun, Deputy Director of the Office for Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan Affairs. The event concluded in a friendly and productive atmosphere.
[From left to right: Professor Zhang Liang, President of SYSU Professor Gao Song, Rector of USJ Professor Stephen Morgan, Associate Professor Ansoumane Douty DIAKITÉ]
[From left to right: President of SYSU Professor Gao Song and the Rector of USJ Professor Stephen Morgan]
About Sun Yat-sen University
Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU), located in Guangdong Province, is one of China’s top comprehensive universities, ranked 12th in the 2025 Soft Power University Rankings. SYSU was established in 1924 by Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the leader of China’s modern democratic revolution, and named in his honor. Today, it has approximately 70,000 full-time students, including undergraduates, master’s, and doctoral students. Disciplines in offer encompasses humanities, sciences, medicine, engineering, agriculture, and arts, with strengths in philosophy, medicine, and management. SYSU Ranks among the top Chinese universities in QS and THE global rankings, excelling in medicine, life sciences, and humanities and social sciences. It hosts national key laboratories and research institutions, actively engaging in international collaborations and cutting-edge research.
About SYSU Law School
SYSU’s Law School, one of the earliest established faculties since 1924, is a leading law school in Guangdong Province renowned for its expertise in international law, civil and commercial law, and legal culture, with a regional advantage in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area legal studies. Its boasts a strong faculty with prominent disciplinary leaders and extensive partnerships with top law schools domestically and internationally.
About SYSU Department of Philosophy
Founded in 1924, SYSU’s Department of Philosophy is one of the university’s earliest and most prestigious disciplines, holding significant influence in South China. It specializes in Chinese philosophy, Western philosophy, and ethics, and it features distinguished scholars and national disciplinary leaders, with research published in prominent domestic and international academic journals.
