08 Jul 2026
Executives from the International MBA (IMBA) at International Business School Suzhou (IBSS), part of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), recently completed their UK Global Immersion Week, visiting Liverpool, Cambridge and London.
For the cohort, the visit also marked a fitting way to round off their IMBA journey for a week of company visits, academic sessions, peer networking, cultural experiences and, as it turned out, some very real lessons in adaptability during a very un-British heatwave!
The tour was led by Dr Anna Hsu, Assistant Professor in Management and Deputy Director of the International MBA, with support from Junqing (Vida) Huang, Academic Support Officer.
Day one: a warm welcome in Liverpool
The week began in Liverpool with a welcome dinner attended by civic leaders including Councillor Nick Small, Cabinet Member for Growth and Economy, and Mi Tang, Head of China Affairs at Liverpool City Council.
The dinner gave participants an insight into Liverpool’s links with China and its wider international outlook. Conversations touched on trade, investment and regional growth, as well as Liverpool City Council’s recent visit to XJTLU for the University’s 20th anniversary celebrations.
Day two: connecting campus and city
The next day began at the University of Liverpool Management School (ULMS), where Dr Dane Anderton, Director of MBA Programmes, introduced students to the school’s research centres and areas of expertise. The session explored how academic research connects with the priorities of the Liverpool City Region, including maritime logistics, life sciences, sustainability, entrepreneurship and digital innovation.
The cohort then visited Liverpool City Council for a discussion led by Gary Millar, Chair and President of the Liverpool China Partnership. Students heard about the city’s regeneration projects, free trade zones and long-standing business links between Liverpool and China.
Later, a guided walking tour of the campus and city centre helped bring these ideas to life. One student reflected that Liverpool felt less like a city with a university in it, and more like a city where the campus and community naturally flow into each other.
Day three: from advanced manufacturing to Premier League strategy
The day also included a visit to Everton football club’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium. In a session with Sophie McNally, Head of Club Strategy, participants discussed the commercial model behind Premier League football, including generating alternative revenue streams along with community and fan engagement.
The day ended with a lighter but very fitting British cultural experience, as students visited a local pub to watch the World Cup, enjoy a drink and soak up the atmosphere as football fans experience it in the UK.
Day four: connections and conversations
Back at ULMS, students attended a guest lecture by Dr Aparna Venugopal on corporate innovation and start-up scalability. The session explored how organisations identify opportunities, test ideas and create value, including the growing role of AI-powered analytics in business decision-making.
Students then joined a networking workshop with MBA peers from ULMS. The session gave both groups the chance to compare their professional experiences and business contexts, while also building cross-cultural connections and friendships.
These conversations are an important part of the immersion week. They allow IMBA students to build international networks while reflecting on how business challenges can look different across markets, industries and cultures.
Day five: The University of Cambridge
The cohort then travelled to Cambridge for a cultural and historical visit to the University of Cambridge, including the iconic King’s College.
After several days of meetings, lectures and company visits, Cambridge offered a quieter space for reflection and some relaxation. Students discussed what they had observed about UK business culture, professional life and society.
Students were struck by the UK’s approach to work-life balance. They noted how professionals often maintain a strong sense of career identity, while also making time for rest and relaxation. For executives used to the fast pace of business in China, often described as “China speed”, this provided an interesting point of comparison and a valuable reminder that leadership is shaped not only by markets and organisations, but also by culture and lifestyle.
Day six: London calling
The final day took students to London, where they visited TheCityUK, the industry body representing UK financial and related professional services. In a session with Dr Zhouchen Mao, Head of Asia Pacific, students explored the UK’s role as a global financial centre and its strategy for working with markets across China, Japan, India and ASEAN.
Topics included green finance, capital market connectivity, RMB internationalisation and digital asset regulation. The discussion gave students a policy-level view of how the UK is positioning itself in a changing global financial landscape.
The cohort then visited the National Theatre for a behind-the-scenes tour. Students learned about the theatre’s in-house workshops, sustainability work, its garden for natural fabric dyeing and even its beehives, which support local biodiversity.
The London visit also included time at the London Eye and the British Museum. However, the day came with one very un-British plot twist – the heat – with the UK experiencing extreme temperatures, the group faced sudden train cancellations and the unexpected early closure of the British Museum. In some ways, it became one of the most practical lessons of the week in that international business rarely follows a perfect schedule necessitating adaptability and agility.
As the week drew to a close in London, IMBA Programme Director, Nuno da Camara reflected on the purpose of the trip:
“The UK Global Immersion Week is a critical part of our International MBA, both for learning about UK business and societal culture, and also as a celebration for the cohort, given its proximity to the programme’s graduation. Constant adaptation for a continuing tradition, this is the idea behind the UK trip.”
A global finish to the IMBA journey
As the cohort came to the end of their IMBA journey, the Global Immersion Week offered a fitting way to round-off their two-year journey – in the sense that it was part reflection, part celebration and, thanks to the hottest week on British record, part lesson in adaptability.
Reflecting on the week, Dr Anna said the week’s real value lay in helping students step outside their usual business environment and see leadership from a different cultural perspective:
“This immersion allows students to experience the UK's distinct societal atmosphere, values, and pace first-hand. This deep cultural engagement drives the transformational learning at the core of our IMBA programme, empowering students to think outside the box, see the world through a new lens, and return to their professions with a refreshed perspective.”
Interested in our International MBA?
Find out more: https://www.xjtlu.edu.cn/en/study/masters/international-mba
For enquiries: ibsspgrecruitment@xjtlu.edu.cn
08 Jul 2026