Professor Phil Taylor, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bath, has been appointed an Honorary Professor at Xi’an Jiaotong University (XJTU) in recognition of his exceptional contributions to energy systems research and his distinguished career spanning more than 30 years across industry and academia.

The appointment reflects the deepening international collaboration between XJTU and the University of Bath and a shared commitment to advancing research, innovation and education partnerships.

Professor Taylor was awarded the Honorary Professorship during a visit to XJTU earlier this week and gave a guest lecture on future energy systems to staff and students at the university. In his address, he emphasised the need for more collaboration between the UK and China to rise to the challenges of delivering low carbon resilient energy systems through world class research and closer working between academia and industry. The visit also included Professor Taylor delivering welcome speeches to 10,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students who joined XJTU for the new academic year. Addressing the incoming cohorts, he encouraged students to embrace new opportunities, develop interdisciplinary skills, learn to use AI responsibly and critically and to value the uniquely human qualities of creativity, empathy, compassion and ethical reasoning.

As part of his visit, Professor Taylor and the President of XJTU, Professor Liqun Zhang, signed an agreement between the two universities which will facilitate progression pathways to some of the University of Bath's Master’s degrees, including the internationally recognised MA in Interpreting and Translating (MAIT) Chinese programme. The pathways provide students from XJTU with seamless opportunities to progress for specialist training in interpreting and translation, international relations and applied economics. The agreement marks an important step in expanding the collaboration beyond the existing activities, making the partnership progressively comprehensive across the two universities.

The research and education strengths at XJTU and the University of Bath are very much aligned and bring together two institutions which are both based in world heritage cities.

Speaking on his appointment, Professor Taylor said:

I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition which reflects the strength of the partnership between our two institutions. This visit has been highly productive, providing further opportunity to deepen our existing work and to discuss our shared ambitions to address the needs of society in the areas of health, digital and sustainability. I am confident that the partnership with XJTU will have significant benefits for students and staff at both our universities as we unify our powers to pursue research, teaching and industry activities.

President of XJTU, Professor Liqun Zhang, extended his congratulations on Professor Taylor’s appointment, saying:

We are sincerely grateful that Professional Taylor has made this special trip to deliver remarks for our new students at both undergraduate and postgraduate opening ceremonies. His care and support for XJTU’s development and young talents are deeply cherished by us all. Our two universities share many similarities and are united by the common goal of building world-class institutions, which has helped us reach extensive consensus. This continuous and close engagement throughout the year fully demonstrates the robust strategic partnership and profound mutual trust between our two institutions. We look forward to working hand in hand as strategic partners, striving side by side for shared progress, to make contribution to the entire human being.