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The University of Liverpool experience of setting
up a University in China
Michelle Rushforth
Ann Cooke
Teaching Quality Support Division
Xi’an Jiaotong – Liverpool University
Presentation overview
Background and establishment
Current status and areas of development
Management of partnership
Quality assurance arrangements
Benefits and challenges
Xi’an Jiaotong – Liverpool University Background and establishment
XJTLU
Joint venture between Xi’an Jiaotong University and University of
Liverpool
Initial agreement signed September 2004
First intake of 164 students September 2006
First graduates summer 2010
Xi’an Jiaotong – Liverpool University Background and establishment
Independent University with own regulatory framework
Recognised under licence by the Chinese Ministry of Education
Accredited by University of Liverpool
Private institution but student numbers controlled by government quota
Delivery and assessment is in English
Dual awards
Xi’an Jiaotong – Liverpool University Location
Located in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, 80km west of Shanghai
Xi’an Jiaotong – Liverpool University Location
Dushu Lake Science and Education Innovation District within Suzhou
Industrial Park, alongside a number of other institutions
Xi’an Jiaotong – Liverpool University Campus development
University opened with one building
in 2006
Building two completed in 2010 including Science laboratory facilities
Third building due for completion in March 2012 to accommodate Built
Environment, Engineering and the Business School
Fourth building due for completion 2013 to house large-scale library
facilities and student support services
Xi’an Jiaotong – Liverpool University Key areas of collaboration
Validation of taught undergraduate and postgraduate programmes
delivered by XJTLU which lead to a UoL award
2 + 2 articulation: undergraduate students spend first two years of
degree at XJTLU and then transfer to UoL to complete final two years
of study
4 + 1 progression to postgraduate study at UoL
Supervision of ‘off-site’ postgraduate research students
Developments in research collaboration and opportunities for UoL
students to undertake placements at XJTLU
Xi’an Jiaotong – Liverpool University Programme structures
One credit at XJTLU is approximately equivalent to three credits at UoL
Undergraduate programmes are delivered over 4 years
Year 1 = Foundation Year designed to meet Chinese requirements
Years 2 – 4 are equivalent to UoL 3 year degree
Years 1 and 2 include intensive English Language training
Master’s programmes are delivered over 3 semesters in 18 months
Taught modules in semesters 1 and 2, dissertation in semester 3
Equivalent to 180 UoL credits
Postgraduate research students are registered with UoL as ‘off-site’
students and have supervisors at UoL and XJTLU
Xi’an Jiaotong – Liverpool University Subject areas
In 2011-12 there are 23 programmes validated for delivery by XJTLU
including two Master’s programmes
Focussed on areas of economic and social value:
Built Environment (Architecture, Civil Engineering, Town Planning)
Mathematics and Finance
Business and Management
Physical Sciences (Biological Sciences, Chemistry)
Computer Science
Electrical Engineering and Electronics
English and Communication Studies
Further provision in development in Environmental Science, Digital
Media, and Industrial Design as well as specialist Master’s programmes
Xi’an Jiaotong – Liverpool University Student numbers
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12
UoL-PG
XJTLU-PG
UoL-UG
XJTLU-UG
Xi’an Jiaotong – Liverpool University Partnership management
Pro-Vice Chancellor (Student Experience) has senior management
responsibility for the partnership
Liaison between support services:
Teaching Quality Support
Student Administration Services
Student Recruitment and Admissions
Planning and Development
Graduate School
Centre for Lifelong Learning
Human Resources
Liaison between academic subject areas on programme development,
assessment moderation, research collaboration
Xi’an Jiaotong – Liverpool University Partnership management: Committees
Joint Liaison Group – meeting held by video conference between
senior staff of the two institutions to discuss academic matters
XJTLU Planning and Policy Committee – University committee with
responsibility for overseeing management of the partnership
Collaborative Provision Sub-Committee – responsible for overseeing
the monitoring and review of all partnerships including XJTLU
XJTLU Departmental Representatives Group – termly meeting
involving key contacts from all academic departments with links to
XJTLU to share practice and discuss common issues
Departmental Video Conferences – regular meetings between
academic subject areas at the two institutions
Xi’an Jiaotong – Liverpool University Staffing and staff development
Staff are recruited internationally
Vice President (Academic Affairs) seconded from UoL
Academic staff have recognised teacher status with UoL
Academic staff undertake UoL Learning and Teaching Certificate
Xi’an Jiaotong – Liverpool University Quality assurance
XJTLU operates its own quality assurance framework based on a UK-
style system and endorsed by UoL including:
Internal periodic review
Annual programme monitoring
Internal programme approval processes
Appointment of external examiners
Staff-student liaison committees
UoL assures quality and standards through:
Review of accreditation arrangements every 5 years
Annual monitoring visit
Validation of taught provision
Assessment moderation
Approval of external examiner nominations
Xi’an Jiaotong – Liverpool University Collaborative provision monitoring
UoL has a risk-based taxonomy of collaborative arrangements
A. Articulation into Year 2 (lowest risk)
B. Franchised modules/programmes
C. International student exchanges
D. Articulation into Year 3/ dual degrees
E. Validated programmes/ strategic partnerships and other high-risk activity
Monitoring process reflects level of risk
Lower risk arrangements monitored by annual report written by
relevant UoL staff and/or partner contact
Highest risk arrangements require an annual monitoring visit
Xi’an Jiaotong – Liverpool University Monitoring and review
Full reaccreditation visit held every 5 years to review all aspects of the
terms of accreditation
Senior level University panel
Review of self evaluation and documentation covering period
Meetings with senior managers, academic staff and support staff, students
Results in renewal of agreements for further period
Annual monitoring visit
Smaller panel, shorter more focussed visit
Review documentation for previous academic year
Both processes result in an action plan responding to the
recommendations of the panel – progress monitored by UoL
Xi’an Jiaotong – Liverpool University Programme validation
Proposed programmes must first be submitted to Chinese Ministry of
Education for approval
Required to produce programme and module specifications
Subject to scrutiny by two external advisers, one of which must be UK-
based and approved by UoL
Programme also scrutinised by relevant UoL department which must
identify suitable articulation routes (if any)
Full audit trail of programme documentation and feedback from external
advisers and UoL staff must be presented for consideration by UoL
committee
Xi’an Jiaotong – Liverpool University Assessment moderation
Institutional Moderator works alongside Chief External Examiner in
scrutinising assessment process
Academic staff in relevant department at UoL moderate both the setting
of assessments and marking standards
Takes place after internal moderation and before external examiner
consultation
Institutional Moderator represents UoL at XJTLU Board of Examiner
meetings
Intended to provide developmental support to XJTLU as well assure
academic standards
Xi’an Jiaotong – Liverpool University External examiners
Nominated and appointed by XJTLU
Nominations approved by UoL
At least one external examiner for each subject area must have
substantial experience of UK higher education
Subject-level reports received by UoL via annual monitoring visit
Chief External Examiner report and evidence of follow-up received by
UoL committee
Xi’an Jiaotong – Liverpool University Benefits
High quality students
Reliable stream for international recruitment
Enhanced international profile
Opportunity to expand overall student numbers
Opportunities for research collaboration with potential links to business
and industry based on Suzhou Industrial Park
Xi’an Jiaotong – Liverpool University Challenges
Rapid rate of expansion
Management of data exchange for the purposes of planning
Variable levels of recruitment across subject areas
Integration of incoming XJTLU students with existing cohort
Xi’an Jiaotong – Liverpool University Further information
XJTLU website: http://www.xjtlu.edu.cn/en/
UoL website: http://www.liv.ac.uk/xjtlu/
http://www.liv.ac.uk/tqsd/XJTLU/index.htm
Michelle Rushforth
Head of Teaching Quality
Ann Cooke
Teaching Quality Support Officer
Any questions?
