Professor Tim Jones: 'We are incredibly proud of all that XJTLU has achieved to date'

Originally published on the University of Liverpool’s website as part of its 20 Stories series for XJTLU’s 20th anniversary.

Professor Tim Jones has been Vice Chancellor at the University of Liverpool since 2023. Here he reflects on XJTLU’s 20th anniversary.

A partnership between XJTLU and the University of Liverpool

The University of Liverpool has maintained a strong and important relationship with Xi’an Jiaotong University for over 40 years. Without doubt, one of the highlights of this collaboration is the co-founding of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU).

XJTLU is one of the most successful transnational education ventures anywhere in the globe and, as a University community, we are incredibly proud of all that it has achieved.

Our partnership offers students a stellar education, has resulted in important research collaborations, and, more broadly, acts as a bridge between our two regions and countries.

XJTLU: a vision

XJTLU was founded with a very clear vision: to create a new international model for higher education, giving Chinese students the opportunity to experience the best of both Chinese and Western approaches to learning.

It can be difficult for new universities to establish themselves globally, as a reputation for excellence takes time to build. Yet this distinctive educational concept – developed so successfully by Professor Youmin Xi – has very quickly resulted in XJTLU being held in the highest regard.

Global citizenship

Global citizenship is firmly embedded within all aspects of XJTLU’s teaching and learning, providing a crucial advantage in an increasingly multicultural world.

Alongside its international curriculum, students benefit from a range of fantastic opportunities to gain global experience. The most prominent being our 2+2 programme, through which we have been both delighted and honoured to host more than 17,000 students to study the final two years of their degree in Liverpool.

These students have been tremendous ambassadors for China, contributing wonderfully to university life while gaining invaluable international experiences that set them apart in a crowded graduate marketplace.

My wishes to XJTLU on its 20th anniversary

On behalf of the whole University of Liverpool community, I would like to say a huge congratulations to everyone at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University on your 20th anniversary. We are incredibly proud of all that this fantastic institution has achieved to date – and look forward to celebrating many more successes in the years to come.