Associate Dean for Internationalisation and Global Partnerships

Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University – International Business School Suzhou (IBSS)

POSITION OVERVIEW

Academic Leadership Role: Associate Dean for Internationalisation and Global Partnerships

Role Terms: Three years in a term, Renewable subject to satisfactory review, Total Two Terms

Preferred Academic Qualification: Senior Associate Professor / Professor

Contract Type: Fixed-term, Renewable subject to satisfactory review; 3rd contract is open-ended

Reporting to: Dean, IBSS

ABOUT XJTLU

In 2006 Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) was created by the University of Liverpool and Xi’an Jiaotong University – a top ten university in China. Offering a unique international education experience, XJTLU brings together excellent research practice and expertise from both institutions and gives students the skills and knowledge they need to secure careers in a global marketplace. XJTLU now has over 25,000 enrolled students in both Suzhou and Liverpool in the UK, with plans to grow to about 28,000 students by 2025. There are currently about 2,000 staff, among which about 1,000 academic staff, with an almost even split between citizens of the People’s Republic of China and international passport holders. XJTLU offers our undergraduates and postgraduates over 100 programmes with a diverse spectrum of courses.

XJTLU is entering a new and exciting phase of its development as part of its strategic priorities for the next ten years. Adopting a new higher education model based on the concept of Syntegrative Education (SE), XJTLU is currently opening a new Entrepreneurial Education site in Taicang, part of wider Suzhou, where the Entrepreneur College (Taicang) is located. The Taicang site will be a pioneer of, and educational model for, the future campus in addressing challenges arising from the 4th Industrial Revolution. Other new initiatives include new working partnerships with Xi’an Jiaotong University, the continued development of the four new Academies, and exploration of further potential locations to develop the SE model.

With a focus on innovative learning and teaching, and research, XJTLU draws on the strengths of its parent universities, and plays a pivotal role in facilitating access to China for UK and other institutional partners. At same time, XJTLU is exploring future education by blending the educational theory, best practice and culture from west and east.

For detailed information about the university, please visit www.xjtlu.edu.cn.

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SCHOOL SUZHOU (IBSS)

International Business School Suzhou (IBSS) at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University is growing in size and influence in pursuit of its vision to be a leading international business school. The school is based on strong principles of internationalism, innovation, inspiration and integrity, which together ensure that we have a positive impact on society through our teaching, research and business engagement. In that pursuit, IBSS became the youngest business school to be accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) in 2016, and again, the youngest School to receive EQUIS accreditation in 2018. Receiving joint accreditation of AMBA and BGA in 2020, IBSS became the world’s 103rd triple accredited business school.

The five departments of IBSS are Accounting, Economics, Finance, Intelligent Operations and Marketing, and Strategic Management and Organizations with over 170 faculty members and more than 6,000 students from over 60 different countries. IBSS delivers a range of undergraduate, postgraduate, MBA, PhD and Executive Education programmes across all major business disciplines.

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Associate Dean for Internationalisation and Global Partnerships (AD IGP) plays a pivotal strategic leadership role in advancing the international ambitions of IBSS, in full alignment with XJTLU’s institutional vision as “根深中国的国际大学，国际认可的中国大学”—a deeply rooted Chinese international university and a globally recognised Chinese institution. Reflecting IBSS’s mission to bridge the local and the international, this role is designed for a senior academic leader who can connect global expertise with local relevance, building partnerships that are globally impactful and contextually grounded.

At its core, the role is responsible for developing and maintaining a diverse and high impact strategic portfolio of international collaborations—including academic mobility programmes, institutional agreements, joint research, and co-delivered educational initiatives. These efforts aim to enhance IBSS’s global profile while also reinforcing its role as a connector between international networks and the Chinese education and business ecosystems. The Associate Dean will act as IBSS’s representative in high-level institutional dialogues abroad, cultivating relationships that position the School as a bridge between China and the world .

The AD IGP also carries a clear revenue-generating mandate. The role involves leading the internationalisation of IBSS’s executive education programmes—driving global marketing, building client relationships, and designing co-developed offerings with international partners. These initiatives must generate revenue, expand global reach, and, critically, reflect the integration of international standards with insights rooted in China’s economic, business, and innovation contexts.

Promoting “internationalisation at home” is also a vital element of this portfolio. The Associate Dean will work to embed global perspectives across the academic environment, expand intercultural learning opportunities for all students, and support curriculum innovation that prepares graduates to operate confidently in both global and local settings. In parallel, the role supports international student recruitment and student body diversification by working with upstream stakeholders—such as international high schools and scholarship bodies—in close coordination with marketing and admissions teams.

Finally, as a member of the senior leadership team, the AD IGP collaborates closely with the Dean, Deputy Dean, and other Associate Deans to ensure that internationalisation is deeply integrated into IBSS’s broader transformation into XJTLU’s Business Intelligence Hub. In doing so, the Associate Dean will help ensure that IBSS not only connects China with the world but also contributes meaningfully to shaping the future of global business education.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Global Partnerships and Institutional Relations

• Lead the development and stewardship of strategic, high-impact partnerships with international business schools, universities, and networks that align with IBSS’s mission to bridge China and the world.
• Oversee the negotiation and implementation of institutional agreements—including student and staff mobility arrangements, dual programmes, and collaborative research initiatives—that reflect both global quality and local relevance.
• Represent IBSS and XJTLU in international consortia, forums, and dialogues, acting as a senior ambassador for the School’s China-informed global engagement strategy.

2. Cross-Border Executive Education and International Programme Development

• Spearhead the design and delivery of co-branded, market-relevant executive education programmes with international partners, ensuring mutual value, local adaptability, and global credibility.
• Drive growth in cross-border education revenue through the development of bespoke offerings for overseas clients, and ensure that programmes deliver measurable outcomes aligned with client needs and institutional impact.
• Identify and secure opportunities for long-term international education collaborations, including corporate training partnerships, regional hubs, and international continuing education initiatives.

3. International Student Recruitment and Global Market Development

• Guide the formulation and execution of international student recruitment strategies that strengthen IBSS’s global profile while supporting a diverse and inclusive student body.
• Cultivate strategic relationships with international high schools, scholarship agencies, and key feeder institutions, with particular attention to regions aligned with XJTLU’s strategic priorities.
• Contribute to global positioning and reputation-building efforts by enhancing the international composition of the student community and ensuring alignment with global ranking and accreditation frameworks.

4. Strategic Integration, Local Relevance, and Institutional Leadership

• Work closely with fellow Associate Deans to embed internationalisation across programme design, curriculum delivery, faculty development, and research agendas, supporting both global competencies and China-based relevance.
• Provide thought leadership on how IBSS can serve as a model of transnational education rooted in China, ensuring internationalisation enhances both local integration and global visibility.
• Monitor progress against key strategic indicators—including partnership performance, revenue growth, recruitment diversification, and external engagement—while contributing to School-wide strategic planning and transformation initiatives.

QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE

Essential:

• PhD in a relevant business discipline.
• Academic profile suitable for appointment at Senior Associate Professor or Professor level.
• Demonstrable success in leading internationalisation or partnership portfolios within a higher education institution.
• Strong cross-cultural communication and negotiation skills.
• Experience working across transnational education settings and with globally distributed teams.

Desirable:

• Familiarity with the Chinese higher education landscape and global student mobility trends.
• Background in executive education or consulting in an international context.
• Understanding of global market dynamics relevant to business education.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Strategic thinking with the ability to develop and execute international engagement plans.
• Diplomacy and cultural fluency in cross-border contexts.
• Entrepreneurial approach to opportunity development and income generation.
• Capacity to represent IBSS credibly in high-level academic, government, and industry settings.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

XJTLU offers:

• Clear career development path with annual review, and
• Professional development trainings.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Associate Deans receives an administrative duty allowance.

SALARY: The salary is competitive and determined by academic rank.

BENEFITS:

1. Allowance: XJTLU provide various monthly/annual/one-off allowances, such as 

• Housing allowance
• Travel allowance
• Relocation allowance
• Education allowance for children

2. Commercial insurance: international insurance plans customized for XJTLU staff and family members. (Details refer to the University Policy)

3. Paid holidays: 

• Statutory Holidays (11 days)
• Annual Leave (36 days)
• Family Matters Leave
• Paid Sick Leave
• Marriage Leave
• Paternity Leave
• Parental leave
• Etc.

4. Working visa and residence permit in China: XJTLU sponsors the working visa and residence permit in China.

RESEARCH FUNDING SUPPORT

The university provides every new faculty member with a Research Development Fund to initiate research projects and a Research Engagement Fund to support their continuous research activities. School level research funding is also available as are various external corporate and government research grants.

Examples of government sponsored grants and programmes are:

Talent/Research Program/Fund

Outstanding Youth Science Foundation Project (Overseas): RMB 1-3 Million

Innovation Leading Talent: up to RMB 2 Million

Outstanding Leading Talent of International Discipline: 50% of Annual Package

Young Leading Talent of International Discipline: 50% of Annual Package

CITIZENSHIP AND VISA REGULATIONS

Employment at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University is regulated by Chinese Labour Laws, and must comply with the regulations of the provincial government. These regulations stipulate who is eligible for legal employment with regard to obtaining work permits and visas. Please be advised candidates over 65 may be not eligible for a work visa in the P.R. China.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your application on our university website via the ‘Apply’ button above. Applications must be submitted in a single pdf file that includes 3 parts in the order of:

• A cover letter
• A current CV, including country of citizenship, and highest degree level
• Contact Details for Three References

Informal enquiries may be addressed to the HRBP Ms. Ye (Gloria) Lan at ye.lan@xjtlu.edu.cn.