Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University in Suzhou, China, has announced it will launch an “online-onsite learning ecosystem” named the XJTLU Learning Mall to prepare students for the world of work.
Set to launch on May 22, XJTLU Learning Mall combines Chinese and bilingual Chinese-English content from other universities and industry partners to provide digital English-language educational experiences for students in China.
“It will challenge the conventional norms for learning engagement”
The tool aims to boost opportunities for students by connecting them with mentors in startup companies and identify internship, job and career opportunities.
“The XJTLU Learning Mall will provide premier resources for lifelong learners, including skills for the industry leaders of tomorrow as they prepare to meet the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, with its emphasis on artificial intelligence and robotics,” Bill Boland, director of the XJTLU Learning Mall, explained.
The “alliance of innovation” will create stronger ideas, a stronger product and a stronger offering, Youmin Xi, executive president of XJTLU said.
“It will challenge the conventional norms for learning engagement.”
Innovators, inventors and researchers will also have spaces on the learning hub, enabling the cross-seeding of ideas to generate unique educational products, according to designers.
“Someone might initially visit the XJTLU Learning Mall platform for a business course, but then decide to sign up for English and career-specific industry skills courses as well,” Boland continued.
“Providers will benefit from a collaborative platform since they can gain customers who previously might not have been aware of their offerings.”
The digital approach of the Learning Mall means entrepreneurs in China will be able to connect with inventors in Germany for example, Boland added.
The XJTLU Learning Mall continues to university’s missions of transforming the education landscape, Xi said, and aims to develop industry leaders for the high-tech future world of work.
“To amplify the value of education in the digital age, the XJTLU Learning Mall will build on our…world-class campus facilities and excellent internal and external education resources,” Xi noted.
“Their integration will create interest-oriented, individualised and active life-long learning opportunities endorsed by a community of educators, innovators and entrepreneurs that can be accessed from anywhere, at any time.”
The platform is expected to be operational in around three months, with the main physical facility on the XJTLU Entrepreneur College (Taicang) campus set to be completed in approximately 24 months.
Students, faculty, parents, and alumni of XJTLU will be initial users before the platform is expanded to Jiangsu Province, greater China and the wider world.
