At the invitation of the Sino-German Institute of Law (CDIR), Dr. Nicolai von Maltitz, research associate at the Chair of German, European and International Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure Law and Business Criminal Law at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, and co-founder and coordinator of the Munich Climate Law School, gave a lecture on the Foundations and Principles in German, European and International Criminal Law to the students on Haidian Campsu on the morning of 23 Sept.

During a delegation visit to China for criminal law exchange, Nicolai von Maltitz took the time to deliver this additional guest lecture at CDIR. Year 2024 entering students of the Sino-German Master’s programme of the College had the special opportunity to learn from von Maltitz, whose academic work focuses on the intersection of criminal law and global challenges. His visit provided students not only with a deeper introduction to German criminal law, but also with insights into international legal research and the opportunity for personal academic exchange.

Before his lecture, von Maltitz engaged in individual conversations with students to understand their academic interests and incorporated them into his presentation. He deepened the core structures of the General Part of German Criminal Law, especially the fundamental principles of criminal law and the three-step structure of the criminal offense analysis—Tatbestandsmäßigkeit (elements of the offence), Rechtswidrigkeit (unlawfulness), and Schuld (culpability)—explaining the theoretical and practical considerations underpinning this model. He also emphasised the profound significance of criminal law as a state intervention into individual rights.

Furthermore, he offered an initial overview of international criminal law, outlining key principles such as the territoriality, personality, and universality principles, and linked them to current academic debates. The students, who are beginning to attend subject-specific German lectures in their second year, greatly appreciated this additional German-language academic offering alongside their module in General Criminal Law.

The CDIR sincerely thanks Dr. von Maltitz for his dedication and valuable contribution to the academic exchange.