History

History

2022 marks the 16th anniversary of the founding of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU). We’ve passed several milestones along the way, but there’s still more for us to achieve. Here are just some of the highlights from our history so far!

2004

SEPTEMBER

Xi’an Jiaotong University and the University of Liverpool sign an agreement to set up XJTLU.

AUGUST

The Ministry of Education authorises the construction of XJTLU.

2005
2006

MAY

XJTLU is officially established.

SEPTEMBER

XJTLU welcomes the first intake of 164 students.

SEPTEMBER

More than 570 undergraduate students join XJTLU’s second cohort.

2007
2008

AUGUST

Professor Youmin Xi is appointed Executive President of XJTLU and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool.

SEPTEMBER

730 students enrol in the third cohort at XJTLU

APRIL

Yuan Guiren, China’s Minister of Education, visits XJTLU.

SEPTEMBER

More than 1,000 students begin their studies at XJTLU.

2009
2010

AUGUST

XJTLU holds its first graduation ceremony – 97% of graduates pursue postgraduate studies overseas.

XJTLU welcomes more than 1,700 new students, including over 50 international students.

OCTOBER

XJTLU receives approval to award University of Liverpool postgraduate degrees.

DECEMBER

The University invests a record 6 million RMB in research activities

JULY

XJTLU’s fifth anniversary celebrations. The XJTLU Education Development Foundation is launched.

The University’s second graduation ceremony is held with 513 students graduating. Nearly 90% enter world-renowned universities to pursue postgraduate study.

AUGUST

More than 2,200 students enroll at XJTLU.

2011
2012

JULY

More than 649 students graduate, 31% of whom obtain a first-class honours bachelor’s degree. More than 80% of graduates go to world-renowned universities for postgraduate studies.

AUGUST

2,200 new students begin their studies at XJTLU.

JANUARY

Professor Sarah Dixon joins XJTLU and establishes International Business School Suzhou(IBSS).

JUNE

Shi Cheng, from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, becomes XJTLU’s first PhD graduate.

2013
2014

APRIL

XJTLU holds its first direct entry recruitment process.

JUNE

XJTLU hosts the inaugural meeting of the Sino-foreign Cooperative Universities Union.

MAY

XJTLU Affiliated School is established.

JULY

A collaboration agreement is signed between XJTLU and Suzhou Industrial Park that will create a world-class platform for innovation in Suzhou.

2015
2016

MAY

The University holds its first research festival, celebrating ’10 years of creating new knowledge’.

JULY

XJTLU officially celebrates its 10th anniversary and opens phase one of the South Campus.

FEBRUARY

The BSc Applied Chemistry programme receives accreditation from the Royal Society of Chemistry, a first for a Sino-foreign University in China.

MAY

XJTLU launches Industry and Enterprise Tailored Education (IETE), the pilot project for the University’s new educational model: Syntegrative Education.

2017
2018

MARCH

A framework agreement is signed between XJTLU and the municipal government of Taicang for cooperation in operating the new Entrepreneur College, as a part of the XJTLU Syntegrative Education Model.

MAY

A cooperation agreement is signed by the China Development Bank, Suzhou Municipal People’s Government, and XJTLU to launch the XIPU New Era Development Research Institute.

JUNE

IBSS gains European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) accreditation from the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD). IBSS makes history by being the youngest business school ever to obtain EQUIS.

APRIL

In collaboration with the Taicang Municipal Government, construction of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University’s new Entrepreneur College (Taicang) officially begins.

2019
2020

MARCH

The groundbreaking ceremony for XJTLU Affiliated Taicang Experimental School takes place.

MAY

XJTLU launches Learning Mall, a unique innovation centre, set to be the first online-onsite learning ecosystem.

JUNE

XJTLU ranks 46 among universities on the Chinese mainland and between the positions of 801 and 1,000 globally in the QS World University Rankings 2021.

NOVEMBER

XJTLU launches XJTLU Wisdom Lake Academy of Pharmacy, the first example of its model 3.0 development.

APRIL

XJTLU-Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute (JITRI) Academy of Industrial Technology is established to offer industry-driven postgraduate programmes.

MAY

The University celebrates its 15th anniversary by launching its Academy of Future Education and Academy of Film and Creative Technology and opening the XJTLU Learning Mall to the public. XJTLU establishes an innovation ecosystem in China’s Greater Bay Area.

NOVEMBER

XJTLU launches the Finding Outstanding Chinese Educators in the New Era initiative.

2021
2022

June

The Transforming Education Conference 2022 was held at XJTLU. The University’s innovative future-oriented initiatives in education have attracted the attention of domestic and international media.

September

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University held the official launch ceremony of its award-winning Taicang campus. The campus will be the new home of XJTLU Entrepreneur College (Taicang).

November

XJTLU held the ground-breaking ceremony for the XJTLU Wisdom Lake Academy of Pharmacy’s new building. The building is expected to be completed and put into use in 2025.

In 2023, the University entered the Essential Science Indicators (ESI) Top 1% for the first time in the field of Environment/Ecology. This is the fourth field in which XJTLU has entered the ESI Top 1%, following Engineering, Computer Science, and Social Science, General. In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024, XJTLU secured a spot in the 401-500 band for the subject of education.

June

XJTLU released its 2023 corporate video titled “The Future of Education”.

September

The XJTLU-Baidu Artificial Intelligence Innovation Alliance, the first of its kind in China, was officially launched.

November

The College of Industry-Entrepreneurs (CIE) was launched. It will foster future industries and educate and empower entrepreneurs.

2023