Twenty years of growth, every step forward illuminated
– Executive President's address at the 2026 XJTLU Opening Ceremony
Dear undergraduate and postgraduate students, colleagues, parents and friends:
Good morning!
With the fragrance of Osmanthus drifting across Dushu Lake, XJTLU welcomes another group of young people carrying dreams for the future. Twenty years ago, XJTLU began with a single small building. Today, it has grown into one of the most closely watched and the largest joint-venture university in China. I am deeply moved and proud of what XJTLU has achieved over the past two decades. On behalf of the University, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all our staff, students, alumni, parents and friends from all sectors of society who have helped XJTLU reach where it is today. At the same time, I warmly welcome the more than 9,000 new students joining our community!
Many of you may be asking yourselves what lies ahead. Some may already be looking towards postgraduate study at a leading university or preparing to enter the workplace. Some may be eager to make their mark in a field that interests them. Others may simply be enjoying a brief pause after years of examination-based education, without yet knowing which direction to take. These questions point to an issue that XJTLU has been exploring throughout its 20-year history: as AI reshapes industry and traditional measures of success become less certain, what should a university offer young people beyond a degree?
XJTLU’s answer has never been to produce a uniform group of “top students”. Instead, we empower each unique individual to find their own direction and pace of growth. Over the past 20 years, XJTLU has developed a distinctive education system to support that growth.
This system begins with one constant principle: student-centred, growth-oriented, and competence-focused.
XJTLU remains committed to the fundamental purpose of education: helping students understand themselves, learn how to learn and grow in a healthy and balanced way. Our programmes, policies and platforms are all centred on the individual. We practise Syntegrative Education that integrates arts and sciences, connects the past and present, draws wisdom from both East and West, and advances human-AI collaboration. We believe that growth matters more than grades, and character more than technical skills. We want to help you move beyond exam-oriented thinking, develop an independent personality and cultivate HeXie Mindset. Helping each student discover a form of growth suited to them remains at the heart of XJTLU’s mission.
Building on this principle, we offer two equally valuable pathways: one leading towards academic research, and the other towards industry and wider society.
If you aspire to become a specialist, are passionate about fundamental research and want to extend the boundaries of knowledge, you may choose the XJTLU 1.0 Model. By drawing on the University’s extensive resources and international research platforms, you can develop a strong academic foundation and work towards addressing major challenges facing humanity or progressing to the world’s leading universities. If you want to turn knowledge into practical value, the seven industry schools at XJTLU Entrepreneur College (Taicang) offer a well-established route towards closer integration between education and industry. Industry and entrepreneurship mentors will support you throughout your studies, while practical projects will help you develop your abilities through innovation and entrepreneurship. Neither pathway is better than the other. You are free to explore, change direction and find the path that suits you best.
These two pathways are supported by three interconnected ecosystems that promote all-round development.
The first is a warm and inclusive campus community. We value diversity, respect individual differences, encourage open expression and recognise that reasonable mistakes – and even occasional wrong turns – are part of growth. You do not have to meet conventional definitions of excellence. But you should seek to understand the world and yourself, develop your interests, strengthen your mind and body, and build the confidence to pursue your ambitions.
The second is a global, digitally enabled knowledge ecosystem. XJTLU recruits staff from around the world and uses the Learning Mall to connect students with high-quality educational resources. You will be able to learn from leading academics, access the latest knowledge, work productively with AI and take greater responsibility for your own learning.
The third is an ecosystem of social practice. We do not believe that education should be confined to an ivory tower. By working with government, industry and research partners, we create opportunities for students to engage with real-world challenges. Knowledge should move beyond textbooks and be tested through practice. In the process, you will develop the capabilities needed to contribute and compete in a changing world.
Our continually developing four education models provide further support for your growth.
The XJTLU 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 Models are not a simple sequence of stages. They form an integrated system in which each model supports and strengthens the others. The XJTLU 1.0 Model focuses on academic disciplines, personal interests and research-led learning. It builds solid academic foundations to cultivate professional elites. The 2.0 Model advances industry-education cooperation and Syntegrative Education, aligning with industrial needs to nurture new industry elites. The 3.0 Model creates an innovation ecosystem that brings together industry, universities, research and government. It strengthens collaboration between education and industry while creating a rich and vibrant environment for the 1.0 and 2.0 Models.
The 4.0 Model, now under development, will extend the boundaries of education further. It explores new forms of lifelong learning and social innovation in the AI era, creating greater opportunities for the development of the first three models. Together, these four models support different educational choices and pathways for growth.
Ultimately, everything comes together in XJTLU’s Five-Star Education Model, which provides a foundation for lifelong and sustainable development.
From an interdisciplinary knowledge system and well-rounded competencies, to international vision, critical and higher-order thinking, innovation and entrepreneurship, cross-cultural leadership, and lifelong learning ability, to HeXie mindset, syntegrative wisdom and social responsibility – all these reflect how the Five-Star Education Model creates diverse growth paths and a symbiotic environment. It supports students in achieving all-round, sustainable growth and becoming global citizens capable of navigating a complex future. The Five-Star model holds great depth and meaning. I would like to set you an assignment: explore it, understand its principles and discover how it can become your steed for life’s journey and wings for chasing your dreams.
Dear students, the value of this 12345 education system is already evident in XJTLU’s 20-year history.
From our first cohort of 164 students and several dozen staff, we have grown into a global community of nearly 30,000 students and staff from more than 90 countries and regions. We now offer more than 120 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programmes and research areas across a wide range of emerging fields. We have also developed four major mentoring systems, including academic advisers, buddies, development advisers and external mentors. These are now being further integrated into a comprehensive support network covering the entire student journey and providing guidance for personalised learning and development. Our distinctive network of more than 1,700 external mentors, together with over 100 industry mentors and visiting professors of practice, brings professional experience, industry knowledge and a global perspective into the educational process.
Over the past 20 years, XJTLU has educated more than 50,000 graduates. Our alumni are now making their contributions around the world – in leading universities, multinational companies, science and technology industries, public services and many other fields. Last year, of our graduates who pursued further study, nearly 47% advanced to the world’s top 10 universities, and over 83% to the world’s top 50 institutions. Alongside this, hundreds of graduates have embarked on innovation and entrepreneurship endeavours. These figures are not simply performance indicators. They represent the efforts of generations of XJTLU staff and students to realise our educational vision. They should also give you confidence as you begin your own journey.
As XJTLU enters its 20th anniversary year, our past has been shaped by those who came before us. The next chapter will be written by you. I would like to offer you three thoughts.
First, take responsibility for your own growth.
At XJTLU, there is no single schedule for personal development. Move beyond passive learning. Look inward to understand yourself and look outward to imagine what is possible. Turn curiosity into goals, remain committed to what you value and take responsibility for designing your own life.
Second, take ownership of your choices, and listen to the call of your heart rather than simply following others’ opinions.
XJTLU offers many choices. There is no absolutely right path, only the direction that suits you best. Try different things, gain experience, make decisions that reflect your values and take responsibility for them.
Third, adapt to change while remaining true to yourself.
AI is rapidly reshaping the world, and learning to work with intelligent technologies is now essential. Leverage AI to free yourselves from repetitive tasks, and channel your energy into the uniquely human strengths: creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and complex problem-solving. Accept that progress is not always perfect. Through exploration, you will discover your potential, develop resilience and gain the wisdom needed for lifelong growth.
XJTLU is entering its 20th year with the energy of youth, and you are beginning an important stage of your own lives. At XJTLU, there is no uniform template for success, no predetermined life script. With our global resources, open ecosystem and education system refined over 20 years, XJTLU has built a borderless stage for your growth. There is no standard answer to the future world. I hope you will have the courage and ability to create solutions.
May you find the key to your growth at XJTLU, discover the direction of your interests, cultivate a HeXie mindset, develop syntegrative wisdom and become the person you aspire to be.
May your individuality be recognised, your potential supported, and your talents given the opportunity to flourish.
I look forward to seeing each of you grow and thrive.
Thank you.
Professor Youmin Xi
Executive President of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Liverpool
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