14 Aug 2024
In an era marked by rapid scientific advancements and global interconnectedness, the importance of international collaboration in research and education cannot be overstated. This sentiment was vividly embodied during a recent visit on July 26th and 27th, 2024 by a cohort of PhD students in Chemistry from the University of Liverpool (UoL), UK to the School of Science at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), China.
This visit marked another successful chapter in the ongoing student mobility initiative between our two world renowned partner academic institutions. These initiatives aim to foster and strengthen international collaboration, knowledge exchange, and personal connections among the next generation of researchers.
The visit began with a warm welcome event, setting the tone for two days filled with insightful exchanges and mutual learning. The UoL students had the opportunity to engage with XJTLU PhD students and faculty during a research seminar, where they discussed their current research projects and explored potential avenues for collaboration. The visitors were also given a comprehensive tour of our state-of-the-art labs and the beautiful campus, followed by an excursion to the vibrant Suzhou Center.
The hospitality extended by XJTLU’s PhD students played a crucial role in making the visit memorable and enriching for the UoL PhD students. From the campus tours to cultural excursions in the beautiful city of Suzhou, the visitors experienced the warmth and hospitality of their hosts, forging lasting friendships and connections.
Reflecting on the visit, Corinna Smith from UoL shared, "It was such a valuable experience to come and visit your campus and talk to your PhD students and hear about the interesting research work which is going on in your department! I think it’s extremely important to keep in touch with international contacts and make the most of the links between our two universities. Your PhD students are a credit to your department and I hope to see some over in the UK soon!"
Davide Sella expressed his gratitude, saying, "I really appreciated talking with you and all the other professors, exchanging knowledge, receiving really precious tips and information about a possible future career, and, pleasingly, joking and having a nice time all together. I really enjoyed the time passed with all the PhD students, they were extremely nice and kind. Sharing some time with them was amazing. I would like to thank you for the nice opportunity to visit the School of Science and XJTLU. Again, thanks to all the PhD students, it was a pleasure to meet you all and I hope to see you again."
Tom Abram added, "The visit to XJTLU was a wonderful insight not only into scientific collaboration but also into the wonderful students at the university and the research projects they are passionate about. I hope one day to visit again."
A gathering of PhD students, enjoying Chinese food
Professor John Moraros, Dean, School of Science at XJTLU said: “The success of this visit highlights the potential for expanding these initiatives between our partners at UoL and XJTLU. Strengthening these partnerships through regular exchange programs, joint research projects, and collaborative workshops can further enhance the academic and cultural ties between our two institutions as well as the UK and China.”
Professor Simon Jones, Dean for XJTLU at UoL stated: “Encouraging more students to participate in such exchanges will benefit their individual academic journeys and help contribute to the broader goal of fostering global scientific collaboration. By building on this foundation, UoL and XJTLU can play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of globally minded scientists and researchers.”
Overall it was a great and memorable experience. This visit helps underscore the importance of the XJTLU-UoL partnership and the value of student mobility in enriching their academic experience. In the School of Science, we look forward to continuing this fruitful collaboration and warmly welcoming more students from UoL to our friendly people and beautiful campus in the future.
Content source: Dr. Lifeng Ding
Review: Professor John Moraros
14 Aug 2024