Dean Li Zhixiu and her Delegation Visit the School of Design, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

On the afternoon of April 8, Dean Li Zhixiu led a fourmember delegation to the  Design School at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU). The visit aimed to further advance discipline development, improve education quality, and strengthen inter-university and international cooperation.

Professor Marc Aurel Schnabel, Dean of the Design School of XJTLU, warmly welcomed the delegation from the School of Architecture and Design, Nanchang University. During the discussion session, both sides introduced their institutional profiles, disciplinary characteristics, and educational achievements. They held in-depth discussions on discipline development, laboratory construction, international exchanges, and potential cooperation in the future.

Figure 1. Group photo of representatives from both sides at the meeting

Founded in 2020, the Design School of XJTLU comprises the Department of Architecture, Department of Civil Engineering, Department of Industrial Design, and Department of Urban Planning and Design. It offers English teaching and is devoted to interdisciplinary research on architectural environment education. Its architecture, industrial design, and civil engineering programs are accredited by prestigious international bodies including the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Chartered Society of Designers (CSD), and Joint Board of Moderators (JBM). The school boasts a highly international faculty and a wellequipped Design Manufacturing Laboratory featuring laser cutting, 3D printing, CNC machining, robotic arms, woodworking, and ceramic studios. It conducts cuttingedge research in sustainable regeneration, green and smart cities, digital design, and related fields.

After the meeting, Dean Li Zhixiu and the delegation toured the Design Manufacturing Laboratory and the campus, gaining firsthand insight into the school’s advanced teaching and research facilities and educational environment. The professional equipment and the researchdriven, interdisciplinary teaching philosophy also impressed the delegation deeply.

Figure 2. The visiting delegation tours the laboratory of the Design School at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

This visit enhanced mutual understanding and laid a solid foundation for friendship and substantive cooperation between the two schools. Both sides expressed their willingness to take this exchange as a starting point to expand future collaboration in discipline construction, talent development, and international academic exchanges.

Written by: Wang Xueqiang

Photography by:Wang Xuelan

Examined by:Peng Jinsheng, Li Zhixiu, Huang Jingyong