The Faculty of Health and Life Sciences recently welcomed a delegation from the Academy of Pharmacy (AoP) at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), Suzhou, for a visit focused on strengthening research and educational ties.
Discussions covered key areas of collaboration, including the Joint Centre for Pharmacology and Therapeutics - a partnership between the AoP and the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics that supports joint research and teaching across both institutions.
The AoP delegation, led by Professor Lei Fu (Executive Dean), included Junzhe Guan (Operations Director), Dr Meng Huee Lee (Co-Director of the Joint Centre for Pharmacology and Therapeutics), Dr Yi Li (Associate Dean for Learning and Teaching), and Dr Xin Liu (Director for Postgraduate Research).
Over two and a half days, the visitors met with Liverpool colleagues including the Faculty Senior Leadership Team, global partnerships and postgraduate teams, and undergraduate and postgraduate programme leads. Key discussions centred on the development of new undergraduate articulation pathways between XJTLU and Liverpool, the expansion of postgraduate taught programme collaborations, and opportunities to increase joint supervision and support for industry-sponsored PhD projects.
The delegation also toured several of the Faculty’s Shared Research Facilities and met with colleagues in the Department of Chemistry to explore future joint research opportunities.
The Academy of Pharmacy, located next to the Suzhou BioBay Biopharmaceutical Industrial Park, currently supports around 1,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students and 44 principal investigators, with ambitious plans to grow to 2,000 students and 200 principal investigators. The AoP is preparing to move into newly constructed 17- and 15-storey buildings that will house state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities.
Professor Chris Goldring, from the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics and Co-Director of the Joint Centre for Pharmacology and Therapeutics, commented: “Hosting our colleagues from the XJTLU Academy of Pharmacy was a valuable opportunity to strengthen strategic links between our institutions. The Academy’s scale and ambition are impressive, and our discussions around joint research, postgraduate development, and shared academic priorities highlighted real opportunities to expand our collaboration in the years ahead.”
Before departing, the delegation also took time to explore the city’s iconic sights and local culture, bringing a purposeful and productive visit to a close.
Learn more about the University of Liverpool’s global strategic partnerships and initiatives.