Liverpool delegation conducts annual monitoring visit

Last week, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University welcomed a delegation of visitors from the University of Liverpool for their annual monitoring visit. This year’s visit included meetings with senior leadership, programme directors, staff and student groups across the Suzhou campus and Taicang base.

A fertile partnership

At an evening welcome reception, Professor Youmin Xi, Executive President of XJTLU, remarked that 2024 is the 20th anniversary of the agreement between the University of Liverpool and Xi’an Jiaotong University to establish XJTLU. This year, he says, “the top priority is to stress the cooperation between the three universities.”

Professor Youmin Xi (centre) speaking at a welcome reception for the University of Liverpool delegation

Professor Gavin Brown, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education at Liverpool, said: “This is one of the most pleasurable monitoring visits we do because there’s always so much that we learn when we come.”

Professor Gavin Brown (right) at the welcome reception

He also praised XJTLU’s education models and research. “The great strides you’ve taken in research income and research outputs are starting to be truly transformational,” he said.

XJTLU Vice President for Student Affairs and Information Professor Qiuling Chao highlighted the role of Liverpool in XJTLU’s success. “In the past eight years, XJTLU has developed quickly and made great progress. We have gained wide recognition and a good reputation. I think one of the most important reasons is we got so much help and support from Liverpool.”

A tour of XJTLU Entrepreneur College (Taicang) allowed the visitors to view the state-of-the-art facilities and learning environments, including AI labs, smart health care workspaces, and an innovation studio. Meetings focused on artificial intelligence initiatives highlighted XJTLU’s interdisciplinary integration of AI across degree programmes.

The visit also included a Three Party Meeting examining partnership developments between XJTLU, Liverpool, and Xi’an Jiaotong University.

The delegation also met with student groups, including Year in China students, undergraduates, and postgraduates. They discussed the learning and teaching experience, assessment, facilities, support services, and Liverpool’s 2+2 programme, where students transfer for their final two years.

Study abroad

One of the highlights of the visit was the XJTLU Study Abroad Fair, where students could learn more about different study programmes overseas.

Ursula Callaghan, Head of International Relations at the University of Liverpool, speaking at the Study Abroad Fair

The University of Liverpool participated in the fair, which allowed students to learn more about the 2+2 programme and get more insight into the experience of studying in Liverpool. The presentations included several talks, including one by the University of Liverpool's Head of International Relations Ursula Callaghan, titled "Explore Liverpool". The Liverpool sessions also included a panel discussion and a Q&A session for students and their parents.

Students at the Study Abroad Fair

The audience at the Study Abroad Fair

Students at the Study Abroad Fair

By Patricia Pieterse
Edited by Catherine Diamond
Photos by Zuofu Wang and Chen Xie