Anniversary News

  

XJTLU marks 20 years with global “Light Up the World” celebration

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), an international university located in Suzhou, China, has officially launched its 20th anniversary celebration. The year-long festivities began with a New Year video message from Executive President Professor Youmin Xi. In the same moment, the University unveiled its global campaign, “Light Up the World” – an interactive event that brings together digital and real-world experiences to mark this important milestone.

1 Jan 2026

XJTLU marks 20 years with global “Light Up the World” celebration
Patients can’t carry a fridge around: research meets the real world

Patients can’t carry a fridge around: research meets the real world

About 3km from Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) sits Suzhou’s BioBAY. Shuai Wang knows the route well – she made countless trips between the two during her four years of PhD studies. While she worked as Associate R&D Director at Crystal Pharmatech (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., Wang was also a PhD candidate at XJTLU’s Wisdom Lake Academy of Pharmacy. This combination of identities – academic and industry – enabled her to approach her PhD research from both perspectives.

17 Mar 2026

Video: Executive President sends 2026 New Year wishes

Video: Executive President sends 2026 New Year wishes

In his latest festive address, Professor Youmin Xi answers questions from netizens, and reflects on their good wishes for the coming year. He talks about working with AI, the value of slowness, that “squandering” sometimes means “growth”, and that all-round development beats full marks. He also shares his wishes for everyone to gallop towards the future in this Year of the Horse.

11 Feb 2026

University of Liverpool Vice-Chancellor's 2026 New Year Greeting

University of Liverpool Vice-Chancellor's 2026 New Year Greeting

On behalf of everyone here at the University of Liverpool, I’d like to wish you a very happy new year. As we welcome the Year of the Fire Horse, we celebrate a time traditionally associated with energy, success and progress. I hope you will approach the year ahead with confidence, resilience and a spirit of innovation in your study, work and shared endeavours. May the paths you choose over the coming year bring you happiness, good fortune and – of course – success.

10 Feb 2026

Letter from the Executive President: Reconstructing for the next decade

Letter from the Executive President: Reconstructing for the next decade

In 2026, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) marks its 20th anniversary. As it stands at the threshold of its third decade, one thing is clear: XJTLU’s development has never followed a linear path. Instead, it has been shaped by a series of deliberate choices – each grounded in forward-looking judgement and periodic self-renewal.The evolution of disciplines related to film and creativity offers a telling example. The establishment of the School of Film and Television Arts (SoFTA) was initially driven by a careful assessment of social demand and institutional opportunity. External resources and industry conditions played a role; more fundamentally, however, the University recognised that culture and arts would assume growing importance in shaping human values and social systems. This led XJTLU to position itself early as a centre for the education of professional arts specialists, forming what is described as a 1.0 model focused on elite, discipline-based training.

3 Feb 2026

Step out and see the world: The journey of a geek

Step out and see the world: The journey of a geek

Whenever XJTLU alumnus Ruijiao Li – a pioneer in Chinese service robotics – is asked by students how to build a successful career, he offers one simple yet powerful bit of advice: Step out. “Step out and see the world, engage with people from all walks of life,” he says. “And get hands-on experience. When you immerse yourself on the front lines, you’ll find opportunities emerging in every industry.”

29 Jan 2026