Celebrating 20 years of pioneering future-orientated education
Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University continues to champion new approaches to higher education, placing societal progress at the heart of its mission
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The last two decades have witnessed the transformation of higher education globally. Around the world, universities have navigated rapid digitalisation, the Covid-19 pandemic, shifting student expectations and more. As Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) in China reflects on the 20 years since its establishment, the institution has much to celebrate amid these challenges.
Founded by Xi’an Jiaotong University in China and the University of Liverpool in the UK, XJTLU integrates a diverse set of cultural and operational mindsets and best practice from across the world into its work. “Twenty years is a major milestone for us,” says Youmin Xi, board member and executive president of XJTLU. Xi is also a distinguished professor of arts, humanities and social sciences at Xi’an Jiaotong University and pro vice-chancellor of the University of Liverpool. “It is a vital time to reflect.”
Developing a new model for a joint, independent university in China meant navigating uncharted waters. “We faced scepticism and opposition in our early stages. But we had a very clear position, which was to develop a future-orientated university. This was a critical decision made by both parent universities. It gives us the opportunity to explore the future and improve the higher education sector.” During its initial years, the university had to learn how to pursue a higher education model rooted in China’s heritage while maintaining an international and independent identity. The university’s willingness to make bold, strategic decisions has enabled it to thrive in an evolving world.
However, turbulence within the higher education sector persists globally. After years of grappling with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, universities are facing a new test with the rise of generative AI. “We are fortunate in that we have always been forward-looking,” says Xi. “Before the pandemic, we launched our Learning Mall initiative. We moved all of our modules online in a very short time, which has had a huge impact on our education system.” XJTLU Learning Mall is an online platform that offers courses for staff and students. It serves as a hub for research and development, knowledge exchange and business partnerships. The wider public can access courses designed by the university and other education providers, including a range of free resources. It was designed to bridge diverse educational philosophies and promote lifelong learning through technology-enhanced teaching.
“AI simply represents the next phase of our evolution,” says Xi. This will enhance XJTLU’s teaching methods to better support its global student community. However, even with digitalisation showing no signs of slowing down, real-world engagement continues to prove crucial to learning outcomes. “When more educational activities moved to digital platforms, we never gave up on campus value,” he says. “The question we ask is: ‘What will students continue to value about the campus experience as we embrace an AI future?’”
The use of digital platforms in teaching and learning enables the university to free up on-campus time for meaningful interactions, rigorous debate and collaborative problem solving. XJTLU’s educational model brings together academic excellence with practical experience in line with industry trends. The university integrates real-world expertise and problem solving into the classroom through its network of nearly 2,000 external mentors, professionals and leaders.
The widespread adoption of AI has caused uncertainty regarding the future of the job market and skills demand. XJTLU considers developing solutions to the economic and societal challenges created by AI as one of its core responsibilities. “This period of rapid disruption is a chance for us to rethink the ultimate goal of higher education,” says Xi. “Over the next few years, our objective is to actively co-create solutions that can address systemic societal issues. When society faces unprecedented challenges, a university should serve as a specialised engine for solutions.”
At the same time, XJTLU embraces the benefits of technology. The digital shift has removed barriers to collaboration and widened access to education. Aligning digital and physical platforms could strengthen educational partnerships worldwide. “XJTLU was born as a joint venture, which naturally gives us an advantage in operating without friction across cultures,” says Xi. “While geopolitical conflicts are currently creating issues for student mobility, digitalisation has strengthened cooperation among nations. We are actively expanding our global footprint – establishing the XJTLU Syntegrative Education Centre in Thailand in partnership with Charoen Pokphand Group, and Belt and Road Divisions of XJTLU’s College of Industry-Entrepreneurs in locations such as Hungary and Singapore – to create a truly interconnected network.”
As XJTLU’s graduates are equipped to adapt to complexity and operate across cultures, they can bring their skills and mindsets into the global workforce. XJTLU now has a network of over 50,000 alumni with a strong global outlook and Eastern cultural values. “From the very beginning, our objective has been to teach our students to be global citizens,” says Xi. “We have developed a holistic educational model that successfully combines the rigour of Eastern traditions with the creativity and independent thinking of Western innovation.”
Recognising the pace of global change, the university has continually refined its pedagogical framework through multiple iterations, starting with the foundational XJTLU 1.0 model with a student-centred philosophy. The university has now launched the latest model, XJTLU 4.0, with its first core experiment focusing on transforming its new campus into “societal laboratories for the future”, Xi explains. Five new projects are already in development as part of a social experiment. The campuses will serve as collaborative spaces working with local communities, schools and industry partners to pilot solutions to global issues.
“We always approach the future with optimism,” Xi says. “This is an incredibly exciting era to be in higher education. The problems facing the world should be viewed as universities’ research responsibilities.” Having navigated its first 20 years, XJTLU is now looking ahead to the next 20, well aware that universities continue to face formidable headwinds. “We are excited by the challenges we’re facing and the opportunities to do something valuable for communities in China and around the world.”