28 Aug 2026
On 25 August, the opening ceremony of the CRRC Business Administration Programme was held at Xi’an‑Jiaotong‑Liverpool University (XJTLU). More than 60 middle and senior managers from across CRRC Group’s subsidiaries gathered to begin an intensive four‑week programme in business administration.
The opening ceremony was chaired by Dr Jianghang Chen, Academic Director of the CRRC Programme at International Business School Suzhou (IBSS). Mr Shuguo Lou, Director of the Talent Development Division, Human Resources Department (Party Committee Cadre Department) of CRRC Group, delivered an opening address, while Professor Youmin Xi, Executive President of XJTLU, welcomed participants to the university. Also present were Professor Eddy Fang, Dean of IBSS; Mr Xiangyu Hu, Associate Dean for Executive Education and Enterprise; Ms Ying Jin, Business Development Director; Dr Xiao Wang, Director of Business Development and Partnerships for Executive Education; faculty representatives Dr Xuanwei Cao, Dr Bin Ding and Dr Youhui Xue; and the programme participants.
Dr Jianghang Chen
In his welcome address, Professor Youmin Xi, noted that CRRC serves as a benchmark for Chinese manufacturing going global, and highlighted the strong alignment between the company’s development and XJTLU’s approach to integrated education and industry engagement. XJTLU has evolved through four developmental phases: elite education, industry‑university integration, industrial ecosystem and social ecosystem, with a continued focus on connecting academic learning with industrial practice.
Professor Youmin Xi
Designed around the needs of a major central state‑owned enterprise, the programme brings together themes including digital transformation and the practical challenges of operating internationally. Professor Xi encouraged participants to make the most of the opportunity to broaden their perspectives and think critically, applying what they learn in the classroom to real-world business challenges and translating new knowledge into practical approaches to corporate reform and growth.
Shuguo Lou
Following the ceremony, Professor Xi delivered the first lecture “Philosophy of the HeXie Management Theory”, formally marking the start of the four-week programme. Mr Shuguo Lou also addressed participants, outlining the context for the programme and the capabilities increasingly required of middle‑level managers responsible for delivering corporate strategy. He pointed out that most trainees are technically‑oriented core professionals occupying pivotal positions in the implementation of CRRC’s strategy and therefore need to complement their technical expertise with a stronger grounding in modern business administration as the Group’s advances its international and digital transformation.
He encouraged participants to approach the programme with a strong sense of responsibility for their own professional development, focus on strengthening their theoretical literacy, professional competence, governance skills and professional integrity and balance their work and study Commitments throughout the programme.
Modelled on core MBA curricula, this custom‑tailored Business Administration Programme features a systematic, practical and internationally‑oriented learning structure. It adopts a blended approach combining lectures, case studies, company visits and action learning, giving participants opportunities to connect management theory directly with business practice.
Covering ten major modules and tailored to the characteristics and challenges of the rail transit sector, the programme aims to fill gaps in managerial competencies, develop future business leaders and support CRRC’s continued high‑quality development.
As a leading Sino‑foreign co‑operative university, XJTLU and IBSS in particular brings together international faculty with proven expertise in executive education. At the heart of IBSS’s mission is a commitment to connecting China to the world, bringing together international perspectives, local insight and industry expertise. IBSS works closely with organisations to develop personalised talent-development programmes that combine academic expertise with the realities if doing business in China and internationally.
The collaboration between CRRC and XJTLU is well established. The two organisations launched the ‘631 International Talent Development Programme’ in 2016 and have since continued to explore new approaches to industry‑university education models, building considerable experience and a portfolio of teaching cases relevant to the rail‑transport sector. This Business Administration Programme represents the next stage in that long‑standing partnership.
By Linlin Xie
Edited by Thomas Durham
Social Media Editor: Xiaoxuan Chen
28 Aug 2026