Students get first taste of XJTLU’s Syntegrative Education

Students work as a team during a taster class at the XJTLU Entrepreneur College (Taicang)

Students get first taste of XJTLU’s Syntegrative Education

A series of taster classes organised by the XJTLU Entrepreneur College (Taicang) provided Year One students with a flavour of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University’s distinct Syntegrative Education teaching method in September.

The taster classes aimed to offer new students the opportunity to discover whether their interests are compatible with the College’s teaching and learning philosophy, according to Joseph Seet, Associate Professor of Practice in XJTLU’s Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Hub, who coordinated the activity.

“University life is new to me, and I’m curious about XJTLU and the wide variety of programmes it offers,” says Yifan Xiong, who was among the students who took part. “The taster classes were a great kickstart to navigate my interests and learning options.”

Year One students attend a taster class

Centred on industry-based learning, XJTLU’s Syntegrative Education method delivers programmes in cutting-edge technologies that are business-oriented, spanning artificial intelligence and smart supply chains.

The College’s industry partners also participate in designing and teaching courses, with the goal to cultivate industry elites with solid knowledge in their field and an entrepreneurial mindset.

Concerned that Year One students might not immediately grasp the Syntegrative Education concept, Seet decided to present them in class with a real-world case, namely the international trade of motor vehicles. Using data on China’s vehicle imports and exports from various eras, he explained how advanced technologies such as AI, smart chips, automated production lines, and smart manufacturing have transformed the auto industry.

Student Junlu He says she initially decided to join the taster class to learn how the University can help students build startup businesses. However, He soon realised that XJTLU Entrepreneur College (Taicang) has more to offer than its industry-oriented teaching method.

“My first impression of the taster class was one of inclusiveness,” she adds. “The teachers I met were friendly and patient. I remember one shared with us that grades are not as important as persistence; as long as you have a goal, go for it, and this will yield good grades. I was touched by that way of looking at things.”

Students from the School of Intelligent Finance and Business at XJTLU Entrepreneur College (Taicang) visit Taicang Harbour

Taking control

In addition to enjoying taster classes, nearly 900 students also took part in the Taicang Open Day. Among them was Rui Huang, who wanted to learn more about the Internet of Things (IoT) after his interest was piqued in a trial lesson at the College.

“When I used a cable to connect to the internet and learnt the theories behind the wireless network interface controller, I truly felt how the world is interconnected,” he says.

After talking extensively with Matilda Isaac, senior associate professor and interim dean for XJTLU’s School of Internet of Things, Huang says he also realised that IoT not only emphasises data analysis but also engineering applications. “Putting theory into practice is the key to excelling in IoT. The open day was a vivid experience for me.”

Fellow student Xiong also feels taking part in the Taicang Open Day was a wise decision. “When you become a university student, there’s a lot more choice,” she adds. “Now it feels like I’m in control of my life.”

Students from the School of Internet of Things conduct an experiment

By: Haolun Xu
Edited by: Patricia Pieterse