Budapest Delegation Visits XJTLU

From October 9 to 10, 2025, a six-member education delegation from Budapest, Hungary, visited Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) for two days of in-depth discussions on industry-education integration, educational innovation, university-enterprise collaboration, and international talent cultivation.

Representatives from XJTLU included Professor Xiaobo Xu, Executive Dean of the College of Industry-Entrepreneurs (CIE) and Director of the HeXie Academy; Professor Qian Liu, Dean of the Academy of Film and Creative Technology; Professor Junsong Chen, Dean of the School of Intelligent Finance and Business; and Professor Andrew King, Associate Dean of the Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Hub. They shared XJTLU’s achievements and experiences in educational innovation and practical exploration.

During the first-day session themed "XJTLU Education Model 3.0 and Industry-Academia Integration," Professor Xiaobo Xu systematically introduced the evolutionary path of XJTLU's education model from its 1.0 to 3.0 stages, highlighting the ecosystem-driven development strategy centred around the "X-ECO Mall." Professor Qian Liu shared the achievements of the Academy of Film and Creative Technology as a reform pilot within the university, providing a detailed analysis of how the Academy systematically cultivates versatile talent proficient in technology, creativity, and industry understanding through its interdisciplinary, cross-campus, and close government-collaborative operational mechanisms.

Members of the Budapest delegation also shared thought-provoking perspectives and experiences. Professor Gábor Halász, Professor Emeritus at Eötvös Loránd University, shared his experience in promoting policy and practice for “University-Industry Cooperation (UIC)” at both the EU and Hungarian levels. Professor János Setényi, Director of the Learning Institute at the Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC), spoke from a cultural strategy perspective about balancing cultural identity and educational localization in a globalized context. He also mentioned his meeting earlier that day with Professor Youmin Xi, during which they exchanged views on the promotion and application of HeXie Management Theory in Europe. Ms. Junjie Ma, President of Wekerle International University, and Mr. Ferenc Bognár, Vice-Chancellor of Wekerle International University, gave presentations on faculty system development, talent recruitment mechanisms, and ongoing Sino-Hungarian educational collaborations. President Ma highlighted that Wekerle International University will actively collaborate with the Central and Eastern Europe Centre of the Belt and Road Division of CIE to jointly advance and implement cooperation projects across the Central and Eastern European region.

On the second day, the discussions focused on “The Concept and Practice of XJTLU’s Syntegrative Education.” Professor Xiaobo Xu elaborated on the syntegrative educational model pioneered by XJTLU Entrepreneur College (Taicang), emphasizing its core philosophy of “Syntegration & Symbiosis” and its role in nurturing future industry leaders. Professor Junsong Chen introduced his academic vision of running the School of Intelligent Finance and Business as an “innovative company,” stressing the potential for educational institutions to achieve both academic and market value. Professor King presented the entrepreneurship education practices at the Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Hub, where real-world industrial projects form the core of learning, showcasing XJTLU’s leading approach to “industry engagement.”

During the open discussion session, members of the Budapest delegation showed strong interest in XJTLU’s educational ecosystem, the diversity of its student body, and the university’s strategic implementation capacity. Both sides expressed a shared commitment to further advancing educational collaboration.