LJMU building links with China

06 August 2012

LJMU Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, Professor Nigel Weatherill, Commercial and International Director, Jon Barrett, Director of School of Engineering, Technology and Maritime Operations, Professor Ian Jenkinson and International Student Recruitment Representative Ginger Wang, met with existing and new partners with whom there is substantial opportunity for increased mutually beneficial collaboration.

Their visit was planned to coincide with the 2012 LJMU Graduation Ceremony at Sino-British College in Shanghai and with the first LJMU Alumni event to be held in China, the first step in developing a new Alumni engagement plan in this region.

China presents LJMU with significant opportunities. LJMU's Internationalisation Strategy highlights China as a priority territory for mutually beneficial collaboration. Chinese students already account for 20% of LJMU's international students and the potential within the China market should ensure that this significant intake continues. In addition, China offers opportunity for research collaborations, student and staff exchanges and a broad range of knowledge exchange activity.

In a country where relationships are so important for progress, partners with whom LJMU already enjoys mutual trust, understanding and a will to work more closely together, were the focus of the trip. In terms of academic institutions these were Shanghai University, Shanghai Maritime University, and University of Shanghai Science and Technology. The visit also provided an opportunity to further develop well established relationships with Sino-British College and Study Group China.

Throughout the visit, a range of collaborations were explored including the joint delivery of learning programmes, collaborative research and student and staff exchanges.

Jon Barrett said:

"There is a great deal of demand in China for education, research and knowledge exchange collaborations aligned to our core areas of expertise. Liverpool itself is a major attraction too, being twinned with Shanghai and having a strong and positive identity in China. Our healthy existing relationships in China and our strategic fit with China's aims and requirements make for significant, mutually beneficial opportunities for LJMU and our partners. The new LJMU Internationalisation Strategy offers a structured approach to capitalising on international markets and with a co-ordinated approach, LJMU's activities in China will help us to achieve our vision of becoming a modern, civic university, delivering solutions to the challenges of the 21st century."

For further information, contact Jon Barrett email: j.barrett@ljmu.ac.uk or telephone: 07968 422558

(Pictured left to right): Professor Zheng, Su (Dean of Logistic Engineering College); Jon Barrett (Director of Commercial and International Directorate, LJMU); Professor Jin,Yongxing (Vice President), Professor Nigel Weatherill (LJMU Vice-Chancellor); Professor Ian Jenkinson (Director of Engineering, Technology and Maritime, LJMU); Ginger Wang (LJMU International Student Recruitment Representative); Miss Yu, Hongrong (Director of Shanghai Maritime University).