From a small college in 1952 to one of China’s leading universities, the China University of Political Science and Law at Changping has a fascinating story to tell. The China University of Political Science and Law, often shortened to CUPL, wasn’t always located here in Changping. It began as the Beijing College of Political Science and Law, merging departments from prestigious universities like Peking University, Yenching University, and even Tsinghua University. Imagine the intellectual energy as these disciplines combined! The university’s first president was the esteemed scholar Ch’ien Tuan-Sheng, considered the founder of modern political science in China. He brought a wealth of knowledge from his time at Harvard University. Sadly, the Cultural Revolution disrupted the university’s progress, a period of great upheaval in China. The university closed and Ch’ien Tuan-Sheng later passed away in 1990.
But CUPL was reborn in 1983, this time with the explicit goal of becoming a national center for legal and political education. This marked a renewed commitment to fostering legal expertise in China. The Changping campus, where we stand now, became a reality thanks to the State’s Seventh Five-Year-Plan in 1985. This expansion reflected the growing importance of legal education. The university adopted the motto “Cherish the Moral, Understand the Law, Know the World, Serve the Public.” CUPL pioneered new specialties in legal education within China. Fields like Legal History, Civil and Commercial Law, and Economic Law were established here first. The university even played a key role in introducing Roman law studies to the country. Over the years, China University of Political Science and Law at Changping has educated over 100,000 graduates. These graduates have become influential figures in law enforcement and legal practice throughout China.
CUPL has also embraced international collaboration. It partnered with Duquesne University School of Law in 1995 to offer the first American Bar Association-approved program for studying Chinese law in Beijing. This opened doors for international students to learn about China’s legal system. Further collaborations with universities like Fordham, Exeter, and Oxford have broadened CUPL’s global reach. These partnerships have enriched the learning environment and fostered cross-cultural understanding. Today, CUPL Changping campus offers undergraduate programs, while the Haidian campus focuses on postgraduate studies. The university continues to expand its academic offerings, shaping future generations of legal professionals and scholars.