Associate Professor of Practice and Above in Economics – XJTLU

Position Overview

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) invites applications for full-time, practice-track faculty positions in Economics at the rank of Associate Professor of Practice and above within the Department of Economics, International Business School Suzhou (IBSS), in Suzhou, China.

These positions are intended for experienced professionals who can apply their industry, government, or policy expertise to academic teaching, business engagement, and student development. Faculty members will contribute to the School through teaching, professional practice, and institutional service, with an emphasis on connecting economic knowledge to real-world policy and business challenges.

Position Details

• Institution: Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU)
• School: International Business School Suzhou (IBSS)
• Department: Department of Economics
• Official Position: Faculty Positions in Economics – Practice Track (Associate Professor of Practice and Above)
• Employment Type: Full-Time
• Location: Suzhou, China

Responsibilities

Practice-track faculty generally divide their workload among teaching, professional practice, and service to the School. Their primary contribution involves applying and sharing professional and industry expertise to support teaching, external engagement, student development, and the School's strategic priorities.

Practice contributions may vary according to individual expertise, professional networks, disciplinary focus, and institutional needs. The School identifies three broad areas of contribution:

1. Business Value and External Engagement

Contribute to activities that create financial, strategic, or reputational value for the School. These may include:

• Developing business and institutional partnerships.
• Supporting income generation and external engagement.
• Contributing to executive education and consulting activities.
• Participating in horizontal projects and development projects.
• Building professional networks and client relationships.
• Supporting other externally focused initiatives aligned with the School's priorities.

2. Student Opportunities and Professional Development

Help connect students with professional practice and employment opportunities through activities such as:

• Supporting student recruitment and employability initiatives.
• Facilitating internships and professional placements.
• Providing professional mentoring and career guidance.
• Organizing company visits, live projects, and guest-speaker activities.
• Supporting professional certification opportunities.
• Developing career-focused learning experiences and other structured connections with industry.

3. Practice Impact and Knowledge Transfer

Contribute to the School's professional reputation, external visibility, and practice-based knowledge through activities that may include:

• Developing teaching cases and business intelligence outputs.
• Producing policy reports, industry reports, and professional publications.
• Sharing expertise through media engagement and public-facing activities.
• Contributing to professional debates and knowledge transfer.
• Demonstrating practice leadership and engagement with relevant professional communities.

Teaching and Academic Service

All faculty members in the Department of Economics are required to teach.

Professors should be willing and able to teach at all levels, including undergraduate, master's, and executive education programmes.

Professors are also expected to undertake leadership and service roles within the Department, School, or University, drawing on their professional experience to represent the Department of Economics and IBSS.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Successful applicants are expected to demonstrate:

• At least seven years of professional experience in industry or institutions such as non-governmental organizations (NGOs), think tanks, government bodies, central banks, or other policy and professional institutions. Relevant roles include Policy Economist, Senior Economist, Economic Policy Analyst, and Economic Advisor.
• A proven record of measurable impact on policy or industry practice, supported by evidence of direct value creation and meaningful external engagement.
• An established professional network within industry and/or government.
• Adaptability and the ability to work effectively in a collegial environment.

Preferred Qualifications

The following qualifications and experience are desirable:

• Expertise in AI-related industries and the pharmaceutical industry.
• A master's degree in Economics or a related field.
• Teaching experience in higher education.

Additional Requirements for Professor-Level Appointments

Candidates applying at Professor level are also expected to demonstrate:

• Leadership experience in developing or strengthening external relationships, revenue channels, client portfolios, strategic partnerships, or business-facing platforms.
• Evidence that previous contributions have generated sustained financial, strategic, or reputational value for their institutions.
• Recognized impact through professional practice, senior professional standing, external visibility, or contributions to professional debates.
• A sustained record of influential professional outputs, such as business intelligence reports, policy or industry reports, and public-facing expertise.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary

XJTLU offers a competitive salary in the market.

Allowances

The University provides various monthly, annual, and one-off allowances, including:

• Housing allowance.
• Travel allowance.
• Relocation allowance.
• Other applicable allowances.

Insurance

International commercial insurance plans are customized for XJTLU staff and their family members, with details governed by University policy.

Paid Leave and Holidays

Leave provisions include:

• 13 days of statutory holidays.
• 34 days of annual leave per academic year, including University closure days and annual leave.
• Family Matters Leave.
• Paid Sick Leave.
• Marriage Leave.
• Paternity Leave.
• Parental Leave.
• Other applicable leave provisions.

Career Development

XJTLU provides:

• A defined career development path with annual reviews.
• Professional development training opportunities.

Visa and Work Authorization

Employment at XJTLU is governed by Chinese labour laws and applicable provincial government regulations concerning work permits and visas.

Candidates over the age of 60 may not be eligible for a work visa in the People's Republic of China.

XJTLU sponsors working visas and residence permits in China for its staff, subject to applicable employment and immigration regulations.

About the Department of Economics and IBSS

International Business School Suzhou (IBSS) is the business school of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. It has more than 170 faculty members and over 6,000 students from more than 80 countries.

IBSS holds three major international business school accreditations:

• AACSB: First accredited in 2016.
• EQUIS: First accredited in 2018.
• AMBA: Jointly accredited with BGA in 2020, when IBSS became the 103rd triple-accredited business school worldwide.

The School comprises five departments covering Accounting, Finance, Economics, Intelligent Operations and Marketing, and Strategic Management and Organizations.

IBSS offers undergraduate, postgraduate, MBA, PhD, and Executive Education programmes across Economics, Management, Accounting, and Finance.

Its Economics-related programmes include:

• BSc Economics.
• BSc Economics and Finance.
• MSc Economics and Finance.
• MSc Business Analytics.
• MSc Economics and Data Intelligence, a revamped programme expected to begin recruiting students in the 2027/28 academic year.

Faculty in the Department of Economics address economic questions with direct relevance to business and public policy. Areas of research expertise include inclusive and sustainable growth, behavioural economics, and experimental economics.

Research activities are supported by the IBSS Experimental Economics Lab and IBSS Biometrics Lab. Faculty research has appeared in international journals included in the Chartered ABS Academic Journal Guide, ABDC Journal Quality List, and Financial Times Top 50.

About Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Established in 2006 through a partnership between the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom and Xi’an Jiaotong University in China, XJTLU combines educational and research approaches from both institutions.

In 2026, the University has approximately 25,000 students enrolled across Suzhou and Liverpool, around 2,000 staff members, including approximately 1,000 academic staff, and offers more than 100 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Its workforce includes a nearly equal representation of Chinese citizens and international passport holders.

XJTLU is developing its Syntegrative Education model, which integrates academic learning with entrepreneurship, industry engagement, and practical problem-solving. This includes the development of an Entrepreneurial Education site in Taicang, within greater Suzhou, where Entrepreneur College (Taicang) is located.

The University's wider development priorities include partnerships with Xi’an Jiaotong University, the continued development of four new Academies, and exploration of additional locations for its educational model.

Further information is available on the Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University website.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the University's website.

Applicants must combine all required application materials into one PDF file, containing the following three sections in the specified order:

1. Cover Letter
2. Current Curriculum Vitae (CV) — including date of birth, country of citizenship, and highest degree level.
3. Contact Details for Three References

Enquiries

For specific questions about the position, contact:

Dr Ye Bai
Head of Department
Email: Ye.Bai@xjtlu.edu.cn

For informal enquiries, contact:

Ms. Yu Yan
HR Business Partner, International Business School Suzhou
Email: Yu.Yan@xjtlu.edu.cn

Please quote the position and job ID in your enquiry.

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