This week, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) celebrated its 20th anniversary, marking two decades of the innovative partnership between the University of Liverpool and Xi’an Jiaotong University in China.
‘Light up the World’
The highlight of the celebrations was an international collaboration to ‘light up the world’, illuminating buildings worldwide including Liverpool’s Royal Liver Building, St George’s Hall, Town Hall and Cunard Building, and the University’s Victoria Gallery & Museum.
These iconic Liverpool buildings joined landmarks across the globe including New York’s Times Square (Nasdaq MarketSite), plus the Shaanxi Information Mansion, a prominent skyscraper in the city of in Xi’an and the XJTLU campus in Suzhou, both in China. Later this month, Suzhou’s famous Gate to the East will be illuminated from 29-30 May.
Celebrations in Liverpool and Suzhou
At the same time, a delegation from the University travelled to China to help celebrate this milestone.
During the week, the University of Liverpool’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tim Jones, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education, Professor Gavin Brown and Dean for XJTLU, Professor Simon Jones, attended a ceremony to officially unveil a specially commissioned sculpture of a bronze Liver Bird.
Created by Shanghai based artist Ye Qing, the sculpture takes the enduring symbol of the city of Liverpool’s outward-looking nature and reimagines the Liver Bird as a bridge between east and west. Its form also evokes the number 20, reflecting two decades of partnership, shared ambition and collective achievement.
The University of Liverpool and XJTLU’s partners were also honoured at an event hosted by the British Consulate‑General in Shanghai to celebrate XJTLU’s outstanding contribution to strengthening academic, cultural and research ties between the UK and China.
These activities follow earlier events celebrating the anniversary and partnership. In April, XJTLU was granted the Freedom of the City of Liverpool, honouring its contribution to the educational and cultural life of the city. This was accompanied by events at the University of Liverpool earlier this month, showcasing the contributions and culture of XJTLU students and staff in Liverpool.
Stories written by students, alumni, academic staff and those instrumental in the University’s foundation can still be found here. They share personal highlights and memories, tracing XJTLU’s journey from its earliest beginnings to its ambitions for the future.
Read them here.
Professor Tim Jones, Vice-Chancellor, University of Liverpool said: “It is a special week as we celebrate 20 years of XJTLU. In both Liverpool and China, we will be reflecting on a fantastic, and in many ways, ground-breaking journey.
“From the first cohort of 165 people in 2006 it has grown to become one of the most recognised and successful transnational ventures globally. Each year over 26,000 students study at XJTLU towards a University of Liverpool award and several hundred also choose to spend part of their studies here in Liverpool.
“The joint venture has far exceeded original expectations and is a testament to the talent and dedication of staff and students alike. Here’s to the next twenty years and beyond.”
Professor Youmin Xi, Executive President of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool, said: “As XJTLU marks its 20th anniversary, we are not simply celebrating the growth of a young university. We are reflecting on a journey of continuous exploration, deliberate choices, and renewal. Over the past two decades, XJTLU has developed from a pioneering joint venture into a distinctive institution that connects global resources, responds to emerging talent needs, and continually rethinks the purpose and form of future education. We have developed our 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 models, and are now moving towards a 4.0 future-oriented lifelong learning and innovative social ecosystem model.
“What makes me most proud is not only what we have built, but how we have built it: through collaboration between the University of Liverpool, Xi’an Jiaotong University, our students, staff, alumni, and partners in industry and society. Together, we have moved beyond a traditional transnational education model towards a more integrated, future-oriented university that seeks to connect education, research, industry, and society in meaningful ways.
“As we enter our third decade, our task is not to repeat the past, but to keep reimagining the future. In an age shaped by AI and rapid social change, I believe XJTLU must continue to pioneer new models of learning, innovation, and global cooperation, and contribute not only to educational and academic, economic and industrial development, but also to a more open, resilient, and sustainable social ecosystem. The past 20 years have exceeded expectations; the next 20 should matter even more.”
About Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU)
Founded in 2006 as a partnership between the University of Liverpool and Xi’an Jiaotong University, XJTLU has become one of China’s most respected international universities.
- Student growth: From admitting 730 students in autumn 2008, XJTLU now has around 25,000 students, with ambitions to grow to 35,000.
- Innovation in education: In 2022, XJTLU launched the Entrepreneur College in Taicang, introducing Professor Xi’s pioneering “syntegrative” education model that embeds industry placements into the curriculum.
- Global mobility: The new Taicang 2+1+1 programme, launched in 2024, allows students to spend their third year in Liverpool. This complements the long-standing 2+2 programme and the University of Liverpool’s Year in China initiative.
- Year in China: This distinctive programme enables University of Liverpool students to broaden their academic experience by extending their degree and studying at XJTLU. Starting in 2016, more than 380 students, across 24 University departments have participated.