CARLISLE and UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A Penn State Dickinson Law delegation including members of the administration, faculty and staff as well as alumni and valued Law School partners recently completed a visit to Asia to deepen the Law School’s global partnerships in legal education and innovation.
It marked the second straight year that Penn State Dickinson Law Dean and Donald J. Farage Professor of Law Danielle M. Conway and Associate Dean for Research and Strategic Partnerships Daryl Lim journeyed to Singapore, where they met with legal education leaders and public and private institutions at the intersection of law, innovation, and dispute resolution. Attendees included Noreen Tama, Penn State Dickinson Law class of 1986, and Thomas Pease, a shareholder at Greenberg Traurig.
Conway and Lim then continued to China, where Penn State Dickinson Law Director of Graduate and International Programs Jing Hu met them. They connected with a half-dozen law schools, signing and renewing partnership agreements, exploring dual-degree and exchange programs, and discussing future academic collaborations.
“This year’s trip to Asia built on the foundation we established with last year’s visit to Singapore. We were energized by the new relationships and initiatives we established, and this year we added more opportunities to ideate with our new partners,” said Conway. “We are excited to continue to grow our appreciation for the importance of the rule of law within an international context.”
“The most rewarding part was seeing how warmly our international partners value their relationship with Penn State Dickinson Law and how eager they are to collaborate on forward-looking initiatives,” said Lim, a Singapore native. “Engaging directly with deans, faculty, alumni, students and policymakers abroad provided invaluable insight into how different legal systems are responding to challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI), digital transformation, sustainability, and other areas where Penn State Dickinson Law is helping lead the global conversation.”
Both trips also included well-attended Alumni and Friends Receptions for graduates of Penn State Dickinson Law and Penn State. Alumni living abroad were pleased to see many familiar faces.
“It was a profoundly meaningful experience to connect with Penn State Dickinson Law administrators in China,” said Yinfeng Zhang, Penn State Dickinson Law class of 2022, who attended the reception in Shanghai. “I have engaged in a face-to-face dialogue with Dean Conway and have learned about the school’s strategic developments and also received insightful suggestions on my current and future career path from Dean Conway. This opportunity made me feel the strong commitment from the Dean and the school toward Chinese students and the alumni network here. It has reaffirmed my commitment to actively follow and support Penn State Dickinson Law’s future development with great anticipation.”
An ‘intellectually invigorating and personally rewarding’ trip
The Singapore portion of the visit featured meetings with public and private sector businesses, government officials, and universities, building on relationships forged during last year’s visit. The Penn State Dickinson Law delegation met with four of Singapore’s leading institutions in intellectual property and dispute resolution: Intellectual Property Office of Singapore, Singapore International Arbitration Centre, Singapore International Mediation Centre, and WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center.
The delegation connected with the Singapore Academy of Law to learn about its mission and impact. It also visited the Singapore Land Authority, which gave an overview of innovations in property registration and state land management.
Sea Ltd., the country’s largest consumer internet company, described its mission to connect local entrepreneurs and consumers in underserved markets. And, for the second straight year, the delegation met with Allen & Gledhill LLP attorneys, who offered a look at the firm’s custom AI knowledge management system and new internship opportunities for students.
Another highlight for the group was attending the launch of “Charting New Waters: The Singapore International Commercial Court after Ten Years” at the Asian Civilisations Museum along with Singapore Minister for Law Edwin Tong.
The trip to China included stops at Southwest University of Political Science and Law in Chongqing, East China University of Political Science and Law in Shanghai, and Beijing's China University of Political Science and Law and Beijing Foreign Studies University, places where Penn State Dickinson Law already has cooperation agreements in place.
Conway also signed a new agreement with Renmin University of China that establishes a framework for faculty exchanges, joint academic events, and opportunities for students to study and conduct research abroad.
“Renmin’s standing as one of China’s premier law schools makes this a particularly significant partnership,” said Lim. “Expanding and deepening these partnerships is a core part of my portfolio as associate dean for research and strategic partnerships, as they open new global learning opportunities for our students and enhance the law school’s international reputation in research and legal innovation."
While at Renmin, Conway and Lim also participated in the fourth 21st-Century International Forum of Law School Deans and Jurists. Conway served on the “Deans’ Forum: Legal Education in the Era of AI” panel with deans from around the world, while Lim contributed to the “International Forum on Emerging IP Issues in the Age of AI.”
“The forum offered a unique opportunity to engage with deans and jurists from leading institutions worldwide on the future of legal education in the digital era. I particularly appreciated the discussions on how law schools can nurture ethical leadership and cross-border understanding at a time of rapid technological change. It was both intellectually invigorating and personally rewarding to see Penn State Dickinson Law’s voice represented on such a global stage,” said Lim.
Alumni also said they were thrilled with Penn State Dickinson Law’s dedication to its global connections. “Events of this caliber are a cornerstone in strengthening the Law School’s reputation abroad, and opportunities to meet deans and alumni are a tangible demonstration of Penn State Dickinson Law’s commitment to being a globally engaged law school,” said Zhang.