Meet the team
Find out more about the hardworking and knowledgeable staff who make your XJTLU dreams a reality.
Professor Simon Jones - Dean for XJTLU
Professor Simon Jones is available to discuss all strategic aspects of the XJTLU-Liverpool partnership. He's responsible for facilitating the continuing success of the partnership with the University of Liverpool across the diverse academic portfolio, covering Engineering, Science, Health and Life Science, Humanities, and Social Sciences.
Helen Li - Liverpool Mobility Manager at XJTLU
Queries about transferring to Liverpool on the 2+2 or Taicang 2+1+1 programmes should be addressed to the Liverpool Mobility Manager at XJTLU, Ms Helen Li. Helen works as part of a wider team of colleagues from across XJTLU and the University of Liverpool to support students with queries such as finding out more about the programme, transferring to Liverpool or applying for visas.
Helen can be contacted as follows:
- By email at two-plus-two@xjtlu.edu.cn
- By telephone on (+86) 0512 8188 3208
- In person for more complex queries; please visit Registry, Room 849 of the central building at XJTLU's Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) campus.
Alicia Bethel - Head of International Relations
Alicia heads the International Relations team in Student Recruitment and Admissions. The team is responsible for managing international partnerships from which the University admits new students each year.
Alicia supports the flow of students transferring to Liverpool on the 2+2 programme, working through the XJTLU Link Tutor Working Group, the relevant faculty Student Intake Groups and internal Marketing and Admissions colleagues. She also liaises with a wide range of stakeholders at XJTLU from Registry, Student Affairs, XJTLU Global and the University Marketing and Communications team.
Alicia co-manages a member of staff in Registry at XJLTU, who acts as the Liverpool Mobility Manager at XJTLU. Gabriella Chen, in Alicia’s team, manages 2+2 Student Ambassadors, working with them to develop content for communications with prospective 2+2 students delivered through Chinese social media channels which Gabriella manages. The team oversees the content on the University’s 2+2 webpages. Alicia and colleagues also work alongside the Global Opportunities team, who manage the Taicang Year in Liverpool (2+1+1) programme.
Contact Alicia by email: aabethel@liverpool.ac.uk.
Sarah Husain - Associate Director for Global Opportunities
Sarah is responsible for the strategic direction of Global Opportunities at the University of Liverpool and oversees the work of the team. Her responsibilities in relation to XJTLU include the Year in China. This provides Liverpool undergraduates with an exciting opportunity to spend a year at XJTLU gaining exposure to Chinese language and culture. Sarah also oversees Liverpool students attending summer schools at XJTLU.
On the inbound side, Sarah is responsible for overseeing the new Taicang 2+1+1 which provides students from Data Science and Big Data Technology with Contemporary Entrepreneurialism BEng (Hons) and Intelligent Supply Chain with Contemporary Entrepreneurialism BSc (Hons) with the opportunity to spend a year in Liverpool as part of their degree. You can contact her for queries about any of these programmes.
Contact Sarah by email sabowers@liverpool.ac.uk.
Steve Bickerstaff - Head of Postgraduate Researcher Experience
Steve Bickerstaff has worked in the postgraduate research (PGR) environment for 7 years and is currently Director of the Postgraduate Experience Team. Steve is responsible for ensuring that the needs and requirements of postgraduate research (PGR) students are prominent in the University’s planning and delivery models, and that PGR students are located in the faculties.
Steve works closely with colleagues across all areas of the PGR spectrum to coordinate and implement an outstanding and ambitious professional support model for postgraduate researchers, aiming to position the University as a leader in the sector. This involves working closely with colleagues in the PGR community to align efforts to support PGR students.
As the University’s PGR Professional Service lead for the XJTLU PGR partnership, Steve works closely with the Dean of XJTLU and the Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research Environment and Postgraduate Research in managing the University’s PGR relationship with XJTLU. The role involves working closely with colleagues at XJTLU to develop a comprehensive UoL-XJTLU PGR strategy and action plan. This covers areas such as new supervisory models, the doctoral programme portfolio, strategic expansion of PGR initiatives and enhancing the PGR culture and support system.
Contact Steve by email pret@liverpool.ac.uk.
Alan Smithson - Academic Quality Support Officer
Alan Smithson is the Academic Quality Support Officer for the partnership with Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU). He's based in the University of Liverpool’s Academic Quality and Standards Division.
Alan’s role is to provide support and expertise in matters relating to quality assurance and enhancement. This encompasses supporting XJTLU programme development, annual monitoring, accreditation processes, approval of external examiners and external consultants, along with providing secretarial support to committees relating to quality assurance and enhancement in supporting the partnership with XJTLU.
Alan works closely with a range of colleagues at both institutions, including XJTLU’s Education and Quality Assurance office, and Liverpool's Link Tutors.
Alan can be contacted for information and advice on quality assurance procedures, policies and regulations. Contact Alan by email alan.smithson@liverpool.ac.uk.