XJTLU’s 20th anniversary alumni cruise lights up Sydney Harbour
On 6 August, more than 100 Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) alumni gathered at King Street Wharf for a cruise on Sydney Harbour. This marks the first Southern Hemisphere stop in the Next Together series of events for the University’s 20th anniversary.
Following group check-in and boarding, alumni embarked on a two-and-a-half-hour cruise, enjoying an evening against the backdrop of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
A night of reunion
Over dinner, alumni reconnected with classmates and met graduates from other cohorts. The formal programme opened with an update on the growth of the Sydney alumni association, followed by a keynote address from Professor Youmin Xi, Executive President of XJTLU.
In her speech, Kun Wang, Deputy Head of the Student Admissions and Career Development Office, said: “Australian universities have long been a core destination for XJTLU graduates pursuing further studies. In 2025, nearly 600 students went on to world-renowned institutions such as the University of New South Wales (UNSW), the University of Melbourne, and the University of Sydney.”
Kun Wang
Wang noted that XJTLU alumni in Australia are widely engaged in the country’s pillar industries, including finance, technology, consulting, healthcare, architecture, and government research. “From the Big Four banks and Big Four accounting firms to tech platforms like Amazon, DiDi, and TikTok, and further to public research institutions such as CSIRO and universities, the industry mix is diverse and well-balanced.”
The alumni employment network covers Australia‘s three core cities – Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane – with 61% of alumni holding mid-to-senior level positions.
Professor Xi then shared his reflections on the University’s development journey, the evolution of its educational philosophy, and its future strategic positioning. He noted that XJTLU started in 2006 with its inaugural cohort of just over 160 students and has since grown into a university with more than 26,000 registered students and over 120 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
He reflected on XJTLU’s educational evolution from its 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 models to the current 4.0 model, focused on the social ecosystem. He emphasised that XJTLU’s original aspiration was not to replicate traditional universities, but to reshape education and influence China’s higher education landscape.
“XJTLU is an international university, and we are now shifting from a single-campus model to a globally networked presence,” Professor Xi said. He introduced XJTLU’s strategic footprint in Bangkok, Singapore, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area: the XJTLU Syntegrative Education Centre (Thailand) has been jointly inaugurated with Thailand’s Charoen Pokphand Group; the Belt and Road Division (Singapore) of XJTLU’s College of Industry Entrepreneurs has been officially established; and the University also plans to pursue deeper collaboration in Sydney as a key node in its global exploration network.
Facing the challenges of the AI era, Professor Xi offered alumni three pieces of advice: “First, create unique value – take what interests you and master it to the point of excellence, until it becomes your signature strength. Second, learn to leverage platforms – even a small contribution can reach the whole world once it’s placed on the right platform. Third, when the time is right, build your own platform.” He encouraged alumni: “Remember these three points, and whatever you do, you won't need to worry about the future.”
Professor Youmin Xi
Alumni voices
The evening also featured alumni speakers representing the finance, banking, e-commerce, and academic sectors, who reflected on how their XJTLU experience shaped their professional journeys and global outlook.
Drawing on their own experiences, they offered practical advice on Australia’s workplace environment and common job-seeking challenges, with particular emphasis on the importance of language and communication skills, as well as accumulating internship experience.
Wandi Zhou joined XJTLU in 2008, studying BSc Information Management and Information Systems, and currently works at Infinity Group Finance in Australia. She reflected on how far her alma mater has come, from what was once called “a one-building university” to what it is today: “The last time I saw Professor Xi was 14 years ago, at my undergraduate graduation. I never imagined we’d meet again in Sydney – what a wonderful coincidence.”
Yuying Wei began her degree in 2011, studying BSc Information Management and Information Systems, and now serves as a Data Manager at Westpac, one of Australia’s Big Four banks. She encouraged fellow alumni to “work hard, play harder” and particularly emphasised the importance of English communication skills: “A lot of people are too shy to talk to locals, and that can really hold you back in the Australian workplace.”
Wei Wei began her BSc Urban Planning and Design programme at XJTLU in 2012, and now works as an Ecommerce Manager at Australia’s Homart Pharmaceuticals. She highlighted that internship experience is a core competitive advantage on any resume, and advised current students to plan early and gain relevant industry experience wherever possible. She also joked that she’s a Xiaohongshu (RedNote) blogger who “never misses a K-pop concert”, and welcomed fellow alumni to reach out and hang out with her.
Zhuoran Du, the most recent graduate on the panel, joined XJTLU in 2018 to study BSc Accounting and is currently pursuing a PhD in Economics at UNSW. He had just wrapped up an academic conference in Europe and travelled specially to Sydney to take part in the event. That same morning, he attended the exchange meeting between XJTLU and UNSW as an alumni representative.
In addition to the panel discussion, the evening featured an open-deck networking session, allowing alumni to strengthen their connections within the XJTLU community.
Professor Xi presents letters of appreciation to the alumni who supported this event
Deepening international collaboration
During this visit to Sydney, Professor Xi and the XJTLU delegation, which included, among others, Dr Qijian Xie, Director of the Student Affairs Office, also visited the University of Sydney and UNSW.
Professor Xi and his delegation held a cooperation meeting with Professor Lisa Zamberlan, Pro Vice-Chancellor International of UNSW, and university representatives. Professor Zamberlan noted that UNSW’s relationship with China dates back nearly 80 years, to when the University welcomed its first cohort of Chinese students in 1947. Chinese students have made outstanding academic contributions to UNSW and have profoundly shaped the University’s research capacity and future direction. She expressed her anticipation of continued discussions on future collaboration.
XJTLU delegation visiting the University of Sydney
XJTLU delegation visiting UNSW
The Sydney Harbour gathering marked the opening event of the University’s Australia and New Zealand anniversary tour. The delegation will continue to Melbourne, Auckland, and Wellington for campus visits and alumni engagements, extending the celebration of XJTLU’s two decades of global growth and international community.
By Qiuchen Hu and Xinmin Han
Edited by Patricia Pieterse
Photos courtesy of the XJTLU Alumni Affairs Office
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