LESSONS FROM XJTLU IN CHINA: AN IMMERSIVE STUDY VISIT FOR IN-DEPTH LEARNING AND CAPABILITY BUILDING

The XJTLU model reflects how Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University in Suzhou, China, operates its innovation ecosystem: businesses bring real-world challenges, and the university develops solutions through joint R&D centres. During a BambuUP-led study visit to China in October 2026, representatives from the Hanoi Centre for Investment Promotion and Enterprise Support (SCE) and outstanding Hanoi startups explored this model firsthand, drawing lessons for strengthening university–industry collaboration in Vietnam.

During the visit, the delegation’s meeting with XJTLU provided practical insights into how an effective innovation ecosystem operates. Beyond a formal exchange, it represented a strategic step towards understanding how academic knowledge can connect with economic activity.

Strategic Objectives: Building Meaningful Pathways for Knowledge Exchange

From the outset, BambuUP’s programme in China was designed around clear objectives that extended beyond a conventional study tour:

• Understanding what makes innovation ecosystems work: Examining how government, universities and businesses collaborate through the Triple Helix model in leading innovation economies.
• Exploring models adaptable to Vietnam: Identifying approaches to university and innovation centre management that could be adapted to Vietnam’s context.
• Building an expert network: Establishing direct relationships with experienced ecosystem leaders to lay the groundwork for deeper collaboration.

When Universities Become Connected Innovation Hubs

China ranked 11th in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2024. Its innovation development reflects a closely connected ecosystem, with XJTLU offering a compelling example of university–industry collaboration.

Combining British academic approaches with the practical demands of the Chinese market, XJTLU operates a university-based innovation ecosystem in which businesses bring real challenges and the university contributes solutions through joint research and development centres.

XJTLU’s approach illustrates how research and application can be brought closer together, enabling academic knowledge to contribute directly to economic value.

The visit’s distinctive value lay in a carefully structured programme designed to examine how this model works in practice:

• Exploring the mechanisms behind the ecosystem: The delegation engaged with key research centres and the Learning Mall model, which connects global educational resources with local needs.
• Engaging in in-depth strategic dialogue: Discussions explored how the university manages intellectual property and structures benefit-sharing with businesses—two significant challenges in strengthening university–industry collaboration in Vietnam.
• Turning experience into purposeful learning: Each activity was guided by a central question: “How can these insights be applied in Vietnam?” This approach transformed observation into a process of selective learning and contextual adaptation.

Towards More Meaningful International Learning and Collaboration

The XJTLU model highlights the importance of a shared understanding among ecosystem participants and professionally designed learning pathways.

For public agencies and academic institutions, targeted international study programmes offer opportunities to learn from established approaches, helping reduce trial and error when developing policies and educational models.

For businesses, these programmes provide direct access to technology solutions and contemporary management practices in leading markets.

For organisations seeking international learning and collaboration opportunities with depth and practical relevance, a thoughtfully designed study programme – such as the visit to XJTLU – offers a valuable pathway.

BambuUP is ready to work alongside public agencies, universities and businesses to build these bridges of knowledge, helping translate international experience into practical opportunities for growth.