Master's in Entrepreneurship and innovation

Xi’an Jiaotong – Liverpool University (XJTLU) is a new international university jointly founded by Xi’an Jiaotong University China and the University of Liverpool UK as a joint venture. As an independent Sino-Foreign cooperative university, it captures the essence of both prestigious parent universities and is the first and only one of its kind approved by the Ministry of Education in China.

The University offers undergraduate degree programmes in the fields of science, engineering and management, and awards both its own Chinese degree and a degree from the University of Liverpool.

Overview

• Against the backdrop of the digital economy and Industry 4.0 development, the importance of entrepreneurial spirit and entrepreneurial thinking is increasingly highlighted. To meet the demands of this era, the XJTLU Entrepreneur College (Taicang), in collaboration with the Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Hub, jointly developed the Entrepreneurship and Innovation MSc program with several faculties of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. This program aims to align with international standards, integrating innovation entrepreneurship with industry knowledge to cultivate future leaders. It aims to equip students with a solid knowledge base in technology entrepreneurship and innovation while stimulating their innovative thinking and creative potential. Leveraging the abundant industry resources of the XJTLU Entrepreneur College (Taicang), the program provides students with a learning environment that combines theory and practice, tightly integrating professional backgrounds with theoretical knowledge and practical application to nurture students into versatile talents needed for the industry 5.0 era. We are committed to cultivating innovative entrepreneurial talents with a global perspective and international competitiveness to promote sustainable social and economic development.

• The MSc Entrepreneurship and Innovation programme offers a broad range of pathways to meet diverse students’ interests and needs: Business, Sustainability, Creative Technology, Enterprise Governance, Innovation and Succession, FinTech, Smart Cities, Technology Transfer Management, Strategic Human Resources Management, Intelligent Robotics and Global Public Health, Smart Ageing and Health Management.

• • The Business pathway, developed jointly with the School of Intelligent Finance and Business within XJTLU Entrepreneur College (Taicang), is the most generic pathway, providing students with a solid base for entrepreneurial activities. This pathway offers a competitive edge for business graduates who focus on management and leadership within entrepreneurialism. This pathway is for students with more developed business ideas who wish to add to the specialist skillsets and expand their business and professional networks whilst taking their career to the next step.
• • The Sustainability pathway, developed jointly with the School of Intelligent Finance and Business within XJTLU Entrepreneur College (Taicang), built around a regenerative economic system, provides students with a solid base for entrepreneurial activities. Ideas, issues and priorities have opportunities to develop business ideas. Students will be delivering benefits such as reducing pressure on the environment, improving the security of raw material supply, increasing competitiveness, encouraging innovation and boosting economic growth.
• • The Creative Technology pathway, developed jointly with the School of Cultural Technology and the School of Film and TV Arts, focuses on cultural technologies, digital product design, digital media, or entertainment. These are software-based, electronic and data-driven solutions in today’s digital age. This pathway relates to digital technologies, people’s experiences, and their practices with mobile, immersive, ubiquitous, and pervasive technologies, helping students become independent practitioners, entrepreneurs or intrapreneurs capable of anticipating changes and communicating strategically with stakeholders.
• • The Enterprise Governance, Innovation and Succession (GIS) pathway, developed jointly with the HeXie Academy, focuses on a range of key issues that enterprises are facing such as continuous entrepreneurship, transformation and innovation, governance upgrade, and succession. This pathway enables students to understand how to use interdisciplinary knowledge and approaches from complexity science, as well as history and culture, to address these issues and challenges through Syntegrative Education. It also helps students apply their theoretical knowledge to the practical business environment. This pathway aims to enhance students’ skills to allow them to deal with current and future issues of entrepreneurship, governance, innovation and succession. Additionally, the GIS pathway helps students to nurture their HeXie (harmonious) mindset to navigate a world full of uncertainty, ambiguity, complexity, and changeability. We welcome you to join us if you are looking for a wonderful learning journey that can provide you with a wide range of knowledge and understanding, as well as the expertise and unique skills.
• • The FinTech pathway, developed jointly with International Business School Suzhou (IBSS), provides opportunities for students to study and utilise applications of newly developed digital and technological advancements in products and services in the banking and financial service industry. It may include software, algorithms, and applications for computer- and mobile-based tools. The FinTech pathway provides suitable students with the modules needed to provide a base for entrepreneurial activities within this area. It does not focus on creating software or algorithms but rather on the application, either in business or as part of students’ ventures.
• • The Smart Cities pathway, developed jointly with the Department of Urban Planning and Design, provides students with the knowledge to promote sustainable development and intelligently address growing urbanisation challenges. The focus is on opportunities that a technologically modern urban area creates to develop assets, resources and services, improving city operations smartly.
• • The Technology Transfer Management pathway, developed jointly with the XJTLU-JITRI Academy of Industrial Technology, highlights the process of achieving scientific and technological research impact in the marketplace and to the broader society. It also provides suitable students with an essential source of innovative creation and an integral part of business development.
• • The Intelligent Robotics pathway, developed jointly by the Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Hub and School of Robotics in Entrepreneur College (Taicang), meanwhile in collaboration with XbotPark (Changzhou) & XJTLU-JITRI. This pathway focuses on the exciting opportunities and challenges of robotics industry in the era of AI, and is dedicated to develop competitive talents to meet the needs of this promising industry through Syntegrative Education (SE). It provides not only the state-of-the-art technical skills through innovative modules but also a solid base for entrepreneurial development in the robotics industry with specific business projects, with excellent mentorship from all partners in the whole cycle.
• • The Strategic Human Resources Management pathway, developed jointly by the Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Hub in Entrepreneur College (Taicang) and the HeXie Academy, deeply cooperates with the industry leading enterprises such as Humanpool, LinLongYun, and BenQ Guru. This pathway focuses on the new challenges and opportunities in the field of human resources (such as intelligent human resources: strategy and practice, talent strategy and ecosystem construction, cross-cultural management and leadership, etc.) in the era of digitalization and AI, and is dedicated to cultivating international, intelligent and strategic human resources talents to meet the needs of future development. It cultivates students’ ability to enable strategic change and innovation in organisations.
• • The Global Public Health Pathway is a cutting-edge, interdisciplinary, multi-campus (SIP and XJTLU Entrepreneur College (Taicang)) pathway that aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the increasingly interconnected and complex fields of global public health/epidemiology and entrepreneurship/innovation. Global health challenges, especially in low resource settings (low and middle-income countries), require innovative entrepreneurial solutions that can be scaled up rapidly in order to have a responsive and significant impact.
• • The Smart Ageing and Health Management pathway, jointly developed by the Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Hub in Entrepreneur College（Taicang）and the HeXie Academy, focuses on the use of digital and intelligent technology to empower the collaborative and innovative management in wellbeing of the elderly and industry. We are committed to building a talent pool of silver economy and healthcare innovation ecosystem, contributing to the active response to the ageing population and the enhancement of the wellbeing of the elderly and the society.

• The Executive Track is perfect for working professionals who want to earn a prestigious international degree on weekends. It covers practical courses in entrepreneurship and innovation, with additional pathways in General Business and Sustainability, all taught by professors with extensive international experience.

Note: For students from this programme who need degree verifications from the Ministry of Education of China, the degree verification only indicates the degree title “MSc Entrepreneurship and Innovation”, without the pathway title.

Projects

Students study on one of the two projects within each of the pathways mentioned above.

• • The entrepreneur project on each pathway takes students through establishing their own start-up business.
• • The intrapreneur project on each pathway takes students to work on a real business case for the second part of their study, using an inductive learning approach.

Program Features

1. Diverse Support for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Projects Realizing the Advantage of Resource Integration

• The Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation program at the XJTLU Entrepreneur College (Taicang) provides students with a unique learning platform that fully utilizes the rich academic resources of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University and combines them with practical platforms such as the XJTLU Innovation Factory and the X3 CoVenture. The aim is to provide students with comprehensive support and resources. Here, students can turn innovative ideas into reality, and continuously explore and develop through experiments, research, and incubation.

• The XJTLU Innovation Factory consolidates resources from over 40 laboratories, creating an open and diverse innovation research environment. Whether students wish to participate in corporate projects or realize their own creativity, they can find the necessary support and opportunities here. Furthermore, X3 CoVenture, as a platform dedicated to student innovation and entrepreneurship activities, not only helps students discover and enhance their entrepreneurial potential but also increases the value of their projects and enhances the success rate of entrepreneurship through practical opportunities and resource integration.

• Furthermore, XJTLU has established collaborations with numerous cutting-edge enterprises and institutions both domestically and internationally, providing you with abundant opportunities for industry practice. This enables you to gain valuable experience in the fields of innovation and entrepreneurship, assisting every student in their journey towards growth and the realization of their dreams.

2. Interest-Driven Future Development Offering Ten Pathways to Choose From

• The Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation program offers ten directions including, business, Sustainability, financial technology, etc., encouraging students to pursue learning exploration based on their interests. The program aims to cultivate students with clear pursuits, perseverance in continuous learning, and various abilities required to adapt to society. Meanwhile, the program adopts experiential learning, integrating systematic cutting-edge theoretical knowledge and innovative business models with practical exercises through integrated education. In addition to classroom teaching, various teaching methods such as business projects, case analysis, entrepreneurship exercises, group discussions, industry practices, and thematic seminars are employed to highlight the cultivation of students’ ability to solve problems and create value in real business environments, innovative thinking abilities, entrepreneurial spirit, and to enhance their management skills and entrepreneurial leadership in leading innovative teams.

3. Deep Industry Connections Providing More Opportunities

• The XJTLU Entrepreneur College (Taicang), located in Taicang, enjoys a unique geographical location, being close to numerous international companies and high-tech industries, and only a half-hour drive from Shanghai. This location provides students with opportunities for in-depth cooperation with local and surrounding city enterprises and institutions, where they can obtain resource support, participate in practical projects, and experience diverse cultural learning and lifestyles. Additionally, XJTLU’s faculty team comprises top talents from various industries globally, possessing extensive experience in both academia and business fields. These resources collectively create an open environment for innovation and entrepreneurship, stimulating students’ entrepreneurial passion and innovative thinking, and broadening students’ future career paths.

4. Excellent Global Faculty Team Balancing Academic Backgrounds and Industry Experience

• Since its establishment in 2018, the XJTLU Entrepreneur College (Taicang) has attracted many teachers from globally renowned universities with international doctoral degrees and rich teaching, research, and industry experience, leveraging its advantages in internationalization, industry orientation, practical experience, and combination of academia and practice. The Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Hub faculty team consists of outstanding professors, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and high-tech industry experts from around the world. They have profound accomplishments in the academic field and are experts in their respective industries, possessing extensive entrepreneurial experience and domestic and international enterprise management experience. Through Syntegrative Education, they guide students to integrate theory with practice, empowering students to break through and develop in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship.

5. World-Class Campus Environment Enriching Academic Life Experience

• The XJTLU Entrepreneur College (Taicang) boasts world-class campus facilities and an international learning environment. The campus houses nearly 40 laboratories with a total area of 5,200 square meters, including facilities such as the Haier Carcosa Industrial 4.0 intelligent production line, iFlytek Laboratory, Industrial Internet Comprehensive Laboratory, Game Production Laboratory, Chip Manufacturing Clean Room, etc. These laboratories are equipped with the industry’s most advanced experimental equipment. Additionally, the alumni have access to an internationally standardized temperature-controlled swimming pool and top-notch gymnasium fitness facilities. In addition to studying, students can engage in physical exercise to enhance their physical fitness and improve their overall health.

Knowledge and skills

By the time you graduate from the MSc Entrepreneurship and Innovation programme, you will have gained:

• • advanced awareness of current theories, trends and techniques in the theory, practice and research of Entrepreneurship and Innovation;
• • the ability to compete for opportunities and transform them into viable concepts and business ideas;
• • the skills to plan, manage and resource entrepreneurial business activities;
• • the capability to evaluate, research, write and present business plans/feasibility studies utilising key relevant frameworks and concepts;
• • an understanding of the importance of ethical and social responsibility as well as ethical and social sustainability from a regulatory perspective in entrepreneurialism;
• • experience in managing the next stage of your career in your chosen project; and
• • an entrepreneurial mindset.

Careers

• The Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation program at XJTLU Entrepreneur College (Taicang) offers various specialized projects covering multiple fields such as business, technology, and management to adapt to the constantly changing societal demands. Each specialization represents the future trends in different fields and closely aligns with industry requirements, providing students with up-to-date knowledge and skills. The teaching methodology emphasizes integrating theory and practice, cultivating students' innovative thinking and problem-solving abilities, and2 enabling them to quickly adapt to the ever-changing market environment in their careers. Upon graduation, they will become leaders in various industries, driving sustainable social and economic development.

Why Choose XJTLU?

• Two Degrees: 1 from the University of Liverpool & 1 from Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (Bachelor's students)
• The University of Liverpool degree (Master's and PhD students)
• All degree courses are taught 100% in English.
• No knowledge of the Chinese language is required to apply to XJTLU.
• Learn free of charge Chinese alongside your course.
• A friendly international community.
• International Opportunities: "2+2" study route to the University of Liverpool, UK for undergraduate students (more than 3,500 XJTLU students are now studying at the University of Liverpool, UK through "2+2")
• International Opportunities: Wide range of study abroad opportunities in partner institutions in Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, the UK, the USA, South Korea, Russia, etc.
• International Opportunities: Partnerships with multinational companies in the likes of HSBC, Standard Chartered, Siemens, KPMG, Alstom, Schneider, ICBC, etc.

About Suzhou

You have the opportunity to live in one of the most culturally rich areas of China, with Suzhou’s UNESCO World Heritage gardens and canals famous around the world.

Suzhou combines its rich 2,500-year-old history with a drive to become one of the most modern cities in China. It has a population of more than six million and a GDP of a trillion RMB – far larger than those of many entire countries!

Alongside its beautiful tourist spots, Suzhou has many excellent learning resources and sports facilities, a great choice of shopping malls, cinemas and restaurants, and a variety of bars and nightclubs.

Today, the city’s canals, stone bridges, pagodas, and meticulously designed gardens have contributed to its status as one of the top tourist attractions in China. The classical gardens in Suzhou were added to the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1997 and 2000.

Suzhou is located in the southeast of Jiangsu Province in eastern China. Within Suzhou is Suzhou Industrial Park, one of the most competitive development zones in China. This area also contains the Suzhou Dushu Lake Science and Education Innovation District (home to XJTLU), which sits beside Dushu Lake, one of two lakes in SIP.

Central Shanghai can be reached from Suzhou in just 30 minutes by high-speed train.

Library

XJTLU students have access to a wide range of library resources, from books and journals to electronic databases and articles. The library plays a key role as a research support and learning centre for the University, developing its collection by focusing on subject development and research requirements.

The library currently holds over 500,000 books, which are added to and updated throughout the year in response to requests from academic departments. It provides 22,000 square metres of space, housing 300 PCs and 2,500 seats for studying, discussion and computer and studio work.

Campuses

North Campus

Full of striking, architecturally impressive buildings, our North Campus provides state-of-the art teaching, laboratory, research and support facilities. This includes the award-winning and iconic Central Building, which houses our library.

The campus also has sports facilities, world class-fully equipped science and engineering laboratories, International Business School Suzhou, and design studios, as well as a variety of catering facilities, including Subway, Pacific Coffee Company, and many canteen-style fast-food options.

Landscaped gardens complement pieces of modern art to create a campus environment that has become one of the striking features of Suzhou Industrial Park.

South Campus

The first phase of our South Campus was opened to the public on 26 July 2016, as a major part of the University’s 10th anniversary celebrations.

Architecturally it contrasts our North Campus and features modern designs that complement the surrounding area. Eventually, the South Campus will satisfy the learning and teaching needs of approximately 6,000 XJTLU students as well as the University’s academic exchanges and research development plans. It will consist of eight buildings and be developed over two further phases:

Phase II: International Business School Suzhou at XJTLU

This phase will see the completion of a new building for International Business School Suzhou, set to open by the end of 2017.

PHASE III: XJTLU-GF School of Film and Television Arts and XJTLU Gym

Phase III consists of two buildings – the construction of the XJTLU-GF School of Film and Television Arts and a gym. Both buildings are expected to open by the end of 2018. The development of the School, in collaboration with financial services provider Gold Finance Group, is a significant part of XJTLU’s academic development strategy. It will mix digital media arts and film and television production and technology with performance and acting. The gym will provide improved and diversified sports facilities for students and staff on campus.

Living in University

When you come to XJTLU, you will have the opportunity to try a whole range of different sports and activities as well as developing any existing skills you already have.

Student clubs and societies

Student clubs and societies play an important part of student life. XJTLU has many organisations with themes such as art, sports, music, entrepreneurship, dance to name but a few. Some of the more established groups include a Model United Nations and the Student Union.

Another society, Intercom, provides a platform for all international students to arrange activities and events, and share ideas and experiences with the wider student body.

Catering

3 canteens, 3 coffee shops, Bar, Restaurants

Sports 

Currently, 21 sports are offered through PE classes at XJTLU, including badminton, basketball, belly dancing, billiards, boxing, bridge, Chinese martial arts, football, free combat, body building, golf, popping, roller-skating, sport dancing, table tennis, taekwondo, tai chi, tai chi sword, tennis, Ultimate Frisbee and yoga.

We have outside sport facilities that include basketball and tennis courts as well as indoor facilities, such as a golf training venue, gym, dance room, and table tennis room. There is also a football field located next to the new South Campus.