XJTU Delegation Led by Professor Wen Guangrui Visits LCI and signs Partnerships with Three Local Schools

We were thrilled to host our partners from XJTU last week for the annual LCI board meeting, chaired by Professor Gavin Brown, followed by visits to local schools.

The Board Meeting and achievements

Annually, leadership staff from LCI and UoL meet with members from XJTU to discuss the work LCI has carried out, celebrate successes and discuss advancements and ideas for the following year ahead. This year, we were joined by Professor SHAN Zhiwei, Professor LIU Wenfeng, Professor WEN Guangrui and Ms MIN Dan from XJTU. With Professor Georgina Endfield, Professor Gavin Brown, Dr Penny Ding and Liu Hao from UoL. Gary Millar, Chairman and President of the Liverpool China Partnership, also joined the meeting as a representative of the Liverpool local community.

The meeting consisted of summaries and reports of the year's work carried out by LCI. Highlights included LCI having worked with over 500 students between 2024-2025, and our cultural events having attracted over 5000 members of the public. This year’s HSK test results received a 90% pass rate, with YCT test participants getting a 100% pass rate. Congratulations to all who have studied with LCI this year. Mandarin courses for the Spring term 2026 are now open. 

Recent successful events were celebrated, such as the Chinese New Year Gala hosted at St George's Hall in 2024 and the Tung Auditorium in 2025, along with cultural workshops in Chinatown and the Victoria Gallery and Museum.

Other notable achievements included dragon boat races, where LCI had placed highly or even won, such as the Lord Mayor’s Race in Summer 2025. LCI Mandarin Student Simon Oliver-Griffes, also won first prize in the 24th Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition - UK Regional Final.

School visits

Following the meeting, Professor Wen led the delegation to visit three local institutions: Carmel College, Queen's School, and Calday Grange Grammar School. During each visit, the delegation engaged in in-depth talks with school leaders, exploring opportunities for student exchanges and joint cultural projects. XJTU also signed formal Partner School cooperation agreements, establishing a long-term framework for collaboration.

Alt text: Professor Wen Guangrui stood with The Queen's School leadership representative, holding a plaque, having just signed the Partner School cooperation agreement.

"The signing of these partnership agreements marks a new chapter in educational cooperation between XJTU and Liverpool. We are committed to fostering cross-cultural understanding and nurturing global talent. Through these scholarships and exchange programs, we hope to welcome more bright students from Carmel College, Queen's School, and Calday Grange Grammar School to XJTU, providing them with world-class educational opportunities and a platform to engage with Chinese culture."​ - Professor Wen Guangrui

About LCI and Xi’an Jiaotong University​

Beginning in 2009, the Liverpool Confucius Institute (LCI) is a collaborative project between the University of Liverpool (UoL), Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU) and the Chinese International Education Foundation. The LCI is committed to working with UoL, XJTU, local Liverpool and Merseyside councils, cultural organisations, schools and the public for the promotion of Chinese language and culture.

XJTU is a leading research-intensive university in China and a core member of the C9 League, China’s premier group of top-tier universities. Founded in 1896, it has a rich legacy of academic excellence and innovation, consistently ranked among the top 10 universities in China (Shanghai Ranking, 2025). Home to more than 4,000 international students from over 130 countries, the university provides both English-taught programs across its major disciplines and a vibrant multicultural campus environment supported by state-of-the-art research facilities and a distinguished faculty of over 3,000 academics. XJTU is a global leader in international cooperation, operating Confucius Institutes in the UK and Japan, and maintaining partnerships with over 300 institutions across more than 60 countries. Its diverse scholarship programs, including the Belt and Road Scholarship and International Freshman Scholarships, reflect its commitment to promoting global educational equity and cross-cultural exchange.

 

Thank you to all who have supported us in 2025 by attending events or studying with us. We look forward to welcoming you back in the new year.