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The University of Liverpool has announced the appointment of Professor Jeff Blackford as the first Dean for Xi¡¯an Jiaotong-Liverpool University.

Professor Blackford will have a remit to strengthen research collaboration between the two universities and promote educational opportunities for the benefit of both UK and China-based students.

He will also continue to work in his capacity as Dean for the University of Liverpool in London, a role to which he was appointed earlier in the year.

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool, Professor Dame Janet Beer said Professor Blackford will be an active and visible advocate for the partnership between the two universities.

¡°His remit is to pursue opportunities that further strengthen the relationship,¡± she said.

¡°He will also help to ensure the many ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ students who study with us in Liverpool are supported both to achieve the highest levels of academic success and to progress into their chosen careers.¡±

ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Executive President, Professor Youmin Xi welcomed the appointment, acknowledging its significance in ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½¡¯s own growth as an international university in China.

¡°The creation of this new role will strengthen the cooperation between our two institutions and provide an important mechanism for development strong leadership to support the continued growth of ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½,¡± he said.

Professor Blackford¡¯s role will support a closer relationship in furthering both universities¡¯ research priorities, including collaboration over PhD and postgraduate research students.

More than 3,000 ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ students study at the University of Liverpool at any one time to complete the final two years of their undergraduate programmes. Meanwhile more than 160 University of Liverpool undergraduates will spend all or part of their studies in the coming year at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½, including 137 on the ¡®Year in China¡¯ programme.

Professor Blackford said he was looking forward to working with colleagues in China and the UK in his new role.

¡°ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ is a tremendous success story and the partnership presents a wealth of opportunities for both universities to further their research and offer life-changing experiences to students,¡± he said.

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Story provided by University of Liverpool, edited by Rosanna Galvin