As part of Liverpool Outbound Education Mission to Shanghai, 47 Liverpool John Moores University staff and students visited China this month.
On the Liverpool Outbound Education Delegation Mission to Shanghai, LJMU has joined delegates from the University of Liverpool, the Liverpool China Partnership, and other stakeholders from throughout the city region, all led by Liverpool City Council. The delegation celebrates the partnership between the two cities, which was first twinned 25 years ago.
In keeping with the educational mission, LJMU and nine other city region partners have taken part in education seminars, cultural events, and meetings with regional government officials to talk about the education sector, consider 25 years of cooperation, and explore potential future opportunities that sister cities could present for Shanghai and Liverpool.
Attending the John Moores Painting Prize: China launch, which featured the winning paintings in a Liverpool Biennial exhibition, were LJMU staff members.
In addition to the city-led delegation, LJMU also co-ran a student-led delegation with 36 students from a variety of courses, including business, fashion, media, art and design, sport, and the Formula e-racing car project, traveling to Shanghai to meet students from partner universities in the city. The student delegation’s two-week stay involved individuals working on joint projects and sharing their learning with local students. The projects culminated in a ‘Liverpool in Shanghai Culture Day’ that featured a fashion show, a documentary screening, and a UK vs. China student football friendly match.
Dr Julia Wang, Director of International Relations at LJMU, said:
“We’ve been delighted to be part of the Liverpool Education Delegation to visit Shanghai and celebrate 25 years of being sister cities.
“At LJMU, students are at the heart of everything we do and this has not only been a fantastic opportunity to strengthen our ties between Liverpool and Shanghai but also for our students to engage as global citizens, experiencing different cultures, gain new skills and sharing their learning with students from across the globe.”
Ella Henry, MA Fashion Innovation and Realisation student, said:
“The experience has been really amazing! I feel incredible fortunate to have been able to visit such a beautiful country and learn so much from a different culture. We have been working on creating new garments for a fashion show we are holding, and I have been able to work directly with a Chinese fashion student to create my design. This is a completely new and unique experience for me, and being able to work with the students at the University here whilst also being the shown the history and culture of Shanghai, has been really exciting and I feel like I have learnt so much which I can take take back and use within my own work at LJMU.”
Students who attended the trip, applied through LJMU’s Global Opportunities, which offers students at the university a range of opportunties to study, work or volunteer abroad at a range of destinations across the globe. Global Opportunities are open to all students and LJMU pledges to support all students becoming global citizens regardless of their financial circumstances or background.
Zoe Woodward, BA Sports Journalism student, said:
“Coming to Shanghai I’m not sure anyone really knew what to expect. It’s definitely a lot different over here but the lessons I’ve learnt have been invaluable. Buildings old and new around the city are truly breathtaking in their own respect. I don’t think we could’ve asked for better Chinese students either as their English is unbelievable and the way they have taken us in and shown us their city has been amazing. In making our documentaries we have discovered how Chinese people view the media and how they would prefer to find out information. This trip has been a once in a lifetime experience and I’ll never forget it”
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