[Editor’s note]“Teacher’s kindness is like a mountain, and my love is deep. "On the occasion of the 40th Teacher's Day, we extend our most sincere blessings to the teachers with reverence and gratitude. This year's Teacher's Day, with the theme of "Promoting the Spirit of Educators - 'My Educational Story'", the Law w88 casino of the University of w88 and Economics has specially planned a series of interviews with the teachers of the Law w88 casino. Let us get closer to these silently dedicated educators, listen to their educational stories, and feel their educational wisdom.
Teacher Profile
Chi Manjiao is currently a professor and doctoral supervisor at the w88 casino of Law at the w88 casino. His main research fields are international economic law and policy, international dispute settlement and sustainable development. His major academic works have been published in first-class international journals and publishing houses. He currently serves or has served as Vice Chairman of the International Investment Dispute Settlement Academic Forum, Vice Chairman of the China International Investment Arbitration Forum, Executive Member of the American Society of International Law, and Executive Director of the China Society of International Law; Asian Yearbook of International Economic Founding editor-in-chief of Law; visiting professor at law schools such as McGill University, University of Wisconsin, and National University of Singapore; visiting scholar at Columbia University, Max Planck Institute for International Law, German Institute for Development and Sustainability, and the Association for the Unification of Private International Law; invited to teach at The Hague Academy of International Law (2021) and the United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law (2023). He is experienced in international dispute resolution. He serves as the registered chief arbitrator of the dispute settlement mechanism of the European Union's "Expert Group on w88 and Sustainable Development", a registered mediator of ICSID, and a registered arbitrator of major domestic and foreign arbitration institutions such as the Singapore International Arbitration Center, the London Court of International Arbitration, the China International Economic and w88 Arbitration Commission, and the Beijing Arbitration Commission. He holds a bachelor's degree in literature, a master's degree in law, and a doctorate in law. His working languages are Chinese and English, and he has basic proficiency in French and German.
There are poems and books in my belly, I can only see and know
Looking back on the past, for Professor Chi Manjiao, it can be said that it was a coincidence that he embarked on the research path of international economic law. In 1997, Mr. Chi graduated with a bachelor's degree in English language and literature, and has become proficient in using English as a tool. He had no intention of continuing to study English literature and grammar and wanted to further his studies in the fields of anthropology and sociology that interested him most. It was in the mid-to-late 1990s, when the national economy entered a stage of rapid development, foreign companies gradually entered the Chinese market, and international economic law gradually entered people's field of vision. International economic law became the most suitable choice because it was related to society and humanities and could give full play to the advantages of English.
From Nanjing University to Xiamen University, and then to the w88 casino, Mr. Chi has achieved rich results in the research of international economic law, and has always maintained his original interest and love for the subject. When it comes to choosing a research topic, Teacher Chi said: "If I have to give some advice to students on choosing a thesis topic, I think it is to find a topic that really inspires you. A good topic is one that you can realize is worthy of research, can bring you inspiration, and is worth immersing yourself in." He opposes the same topic selection, blindly pursuing hot topics and following what others say, and emphasizes the topic selection of thesis. You should have a broad vision and not be limited to previous literature and current popular fields. You should compare thesis writing to cooking: "When selecting a topic, I find a special dish in a certain cuisine and think it is good. I will introduce to others how I encountered this dish and why I like it, rather than simply introducing how to make this dish. This is my ideal thesis."
As for how to write such a paper, Teacher Chi also gave the answer - having poems and books in your belly. Teacher Chi suggested that students read more and read more "miscellaneous books" in non-professional fields. Only by reading more books in various fields such as society, history, and politics can we not be limited to certain fixed frameworks and paradigms. "Even in martial arts novels, when you intuitively feel that something is wrong, problematic, or interesting, you have a good direction at this time. You can walk around in it to see if it has anything to do with law." In the eyes of Teacher Chi, international economic law, and even international law, is a vast field. In the vast sea of stars, in addition to the international investment and international control that we pay attention to, there are countless shining and interesting contents such as outer space law, environmental law, human rights law, basic theories of public international law, etc. Teacher Chi encourages students to have the courage to explore these fields. Only with poetry and books in your belly can you have unique insights.
Study, think and practice, unite knowledge and action
For many years, Teacher Chi Manjiao has not only studied knowledge and taught in the ivory tower, but also has rich practical experience. He has extensive experience in international commercial and investment arbitration, World w88 Organization dispute settlement, international economic treaty negotiation and policy formulation. He is also an arbitrator in many domestic and foreign arbitration institutions, serves as an expert in many international arbitration cases and litigation cases before the U.S. and European courts, and has submitted "amicus curiae" opinions in U.S. Supreme Court cases.
His profound academic background helps Mr. Chi handle practical problems with ease, especially when faced with some major and difficult problems. His academic background provides him with strong support. Rich practical experience will provide perspectives and materials for teaching and research. When faced with abstract academic theories, practical experience allows Teacher Chi to have a clearer understanding of where the problem comes from, where it applies, and what the potential shortcomings are, so that he can better grasp the key points. Teacher Chi believes that participating in practical work is a good opportunity. At the international level, the international community has relatively international evaluation standards for international law scholars. In addition to the domestic academic community's emphasis on publishing books and papers in important journals or publishing houses and undertaking research projects, there are also broader standards, including serving as consultants to major international organizations, holding decision-making positions in important international academic institutions, serving as editor-in-chief or editorial board member of important international journals, participating in international dispute settlement practices, etc. Many international jurists we are familiar with have served as judges and arbitrators and have handled influential cases. The importance of learning, thinking and practicing, integrating knowledge and action, and participating in policy formulation, treaty negotiation, dispute resolution and other practices to the best of your ability is self-evident.
Spring breeze turns into rain, moistening things silently
During his twenty-year teaching career, Teacher Chi has never forgotten his original intention, preaching, learning, and solving doubts. Teacher Chi expects his students to have good expression skills. He also leads by example, never using PPT as a teaching aid, and explains the ins and outs of each knowledge point fluently, concisely and clearly. He always builds on basic knowledge, makes many extensions, and encourages class discussions. He especially looks forward to students' questions, doubts and critical thinking, rather than taking what the teacher says as a guideline. "Teaching teaches each other," this is the classroom atmosphere that Teacher Chi has worked hard to create for a long time.
In addition to teaching, Teacher Chi is also very concerned about the development of students. His students have different careers after graduation, either continuing their studies, working as teachers, lawyers, legal personnel in universities at home and abroad, or even switching careers to other industries such as finance. Teacher Chi fully understands the confusion and hardship that students face when choosing a path, but he also encourages them to choose a job that they really like. He also hopes that students can find their own careers, aspirations, poetry and distance.
