On Friday, 23 May 2025, The School of Languages at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) hosted the Year 1 EAP Project Poster Competition Symposium. The event showcased the creativity and hard work of Year 1 EAP students, with innovative proposals focused on improving the student experience, campus environment, and how staff can further support students.
The ceremony was attended by Professor Youmin Xi, Executive President of XJTLU, Helen Beech, Dean of the School of Languages, and Simon Sheridan, Director of the English Language Centre. Professor Xi presented the awards to the winners.
The competition invited Year 1 EAP students to submit academic posters based on their EAP Projects addressing one of three areas: enhancing the student learning experience, increasing staff support, and improving campus facilities. Proposals were evaluated on impact, innovation, originality, and feasibility.
First Prize: CIP APP – A New Campus Information Platform
The first-place award went to Qiutian Lan, Jingyang Wang, Zecheng Yin and Guangyu Zhao who entered the poster titled “CIP APP: Next Generation Campus Information Platform.” This project integrates various campus communication tools into one app, allowing students to access emails, announcements, timetables, and more from a single interface. Team leader Qiutian Lan, a student in Intelligent Robotics Engineering with Contemporary Entrepreneurialism, explained, “Students currently use multiple apps for information. This app consolidates essential features, improving efficiency and reducing information overload.”
Lan expressed excitement about winning and collaborating with the university’s IT department to further develop the app
Other Innovative Proposals
Other notable projects included one aimed at improving campus accessibility for students with disabilities and another addressing waste management through garbage classification. These projects showcased the students’ creativity and awareness of campus challenges.
Paula Gibson, Deputy Director of the English Language Centre, said: “It has been a privilege to see such a wide range of innovative ideas. The students demonstrated not only academic excellence but also a commitment to enhancing the university’s environment.”
A Platform for Student Creativity and Collaboration
The symposium was not only a competition but also a celebration of the students’ academic growth and collaboration. Working on these projects enhanced their research, teamwork, and presentation skills and allowed them to share ideas with potential to impact the campus.
Professor Youmin Xi emphasised the role of language and technology in education, saying: “English is a tool for understanding cultures. We must also leverage AI to support teaching and learning. This challenge requires collaboration from both students and staff to develop new methods for helping students grow.”
As the ceremony concluded, students reflected on their achievements and hopes for future developments. The winning team expressed their intention to collaborate with the university to expand the app’s features. “Winning this award is a huge honour, and we are excited to continue developing our project with the university’s support,” said Lan.
Paula Gibson shared her thoughts on the competition’s future: “We are proud of our students’ ability to tackle real-world issues. We plan to expand this competition in the future, encouraging more students to showcase their creativity and problem-solving skills.”
