The University of Nottingham Ningbo China Annual Quality Report 2018-2019 www.nottingham.edu.cn Contents President’s Statement 01 Provost’s Statement 02 Timeline 03 2018-19 Highlights 09 15 Years Anniversary Celebrations 13 Teaching & Learning 20 Internationalization 34 Research Innovation & Impact 42 Social Influence 58 Service and Facility Upgrading 70 * This report represents an operational review of University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) in the Year of 2018-19. The data provided in this report is chiefly collected from the academic year while the research is based on the calendar year as per the benchmarking tool’s calculation rule. Annual Quality Report 2018-2019 President’s Provost’s Statement Statement What is a first-class university? I think a first- As the first Sino-foreign University, UNNC class university should have first-class students plays an active role in promoting friendship and and staff. Upon graduation, students should collaboration between China and Britain. feel that their lives have been transformed throughout the university experience. Academic staff should put teaching at the centre while This is my second term as Provost of UNNC. Since 2010 I have delivering curiosity-driven research in a relaxing worked in the position of Provost for six years. My family have also been living and working in Ningbo for a long time - to be honest, environment. Ningbo is now our second home. Since I returned as Provost, I have been asked by many people if 2019 is the 15th year anniversary of the University of Nottingham there are any big differences between my first and second terms. Ningbo China. We continued to place students at the centre of what Well, in general, I would have to say that UNNC has come on a lot – we do, improved the university’s governance mechanism, and made we’re no longer the “new kids on the block” - we’re now a seasoned, steady progresses in teaching, research, innovation and campus respected institution with a burgeoning international reputation to developments. uphold. For the past 15 years, I have been proud to receive so many letters We now rank 55th nationwide and 2nd in the whole of Zhejiang from our students and alumni saying that UNNC transformed Province. We recruit students from 29 Chinese provinces. Our their lives. Our students have benefited from the liberal education Gaokao entry scores are rising year by year. UNNC on average philosophy that has been put into practice at UNNC, but this also recruits from the top 5.8% of students via Gaokao. encompasses the concepts of “Bo” referring to broadness, in that As the first Sino-foreign University, UNNC plays an active role in we need to let students learn both arts and sciences and “Ya”, promoting friendship and collaboration between China and Britain. which refers to cultivation and the need to nurture good qualities in students as “human beings first, and professionals second.” At UNNC’s 15th anniversary celebrations earlier this year, Tony Clemson, Deputy Consul General of the British Consulate General The core of liberal education is to enable students to answer the Shanghai said “The significance of UNNC now reaches far beyond question “what does it mean to be human?”, by developing both the campus itself. It has become an important component of their intelligence and their ability to think and understand. Our broader China-UK relations.” students are independent thinkers, excellent communicators and capable team-workers. They understand both China and the world, Upon my return to UNNC as Provost, I again studied President Xi and are responsible global citizens. Our staff communicate with Jinping’s speech at our campus back in 2006. The then Zhejiang them as equals and inspire these young people to think actively and Party Secretary, he hoped that UNNC would develop and flourish find the fire in their hearts. under the joint efforts of both China and the UK, and strive to become a renowned university. I think this is the goal of UNNC as Looking back, I would like to thank our students, staff, partners, we enter its new development phase. We will try our best to achieve government and benefactors for their strong support and close this endeavour. collaboration. In this new era of development, we need to embrace challenges and make continuous efforts to improve the quality of the education we offer and the research we conduct. We want UNNC to be not only the first Sino-foreign university in China, but also the best in China. Professor Nick Miles Provost and Pro-Vice Chancellor I would like to work with all UNNC students and staffs to welcome University of Nottingham Ningbo China the new development of the University with enthusiasm and vitality. Professor YANG Fujia President University of Nottingham Ningbo China 01 02 Annual Quality Report 2018-2019 UNNC: our journey The University of Nottingham has always recognised that ground- breaking teaching and research should not be constrained by geographical boundaries. This international outlook enables our academic staff to work with the very best, wherever they may be, and enables students worldwide to benefit from a University of Nottingham education. UNNC’s journey began in 2000, when the 2006 idea of a Sino-foreign university was articulated for the first time. FEBRUARY: The 144-acre FEBRUARY: Xi Jinping, Party APRIL: The Chinese Ministry campus is officially opened by Secretary of Zhejiang Province of Education grants permission FEBRUARY: Legislation is passed that Dr Chen Zhili, State Councillor and now President of China, to award masters degrees, permits the establishment of Sino-foreign of the People’s Republic of gives a speech. expanding the scope of UNNC’s universities. Nottingham is the first China, and the UK’s then offering to students. to receive a licence for a joint venture Deputy Prime Minister John campus, paving the way for a pioneering Prescott. They plant Chinese development in global higher education. and British trees as a symbol of the new partnership. 2000 2003 2004 2007 MARCH: The University of First The beginning: Chinese JANUARY: Nottingham and Zhejiang Wanli postgraduate academician Professor YANG Education Group graduation Fujia (right) is appointed sign the Memorandum of ceremony takes Chancellor of the University of Understanding that will establish place. Nottingham and inaugurated UNNC. The Chinese Ministry on 1 January 2001. With of Education approves plans to Vice-Chancellor, Professor establish UNNC. Sir Colin Campbell, (second left) Professor YANG Fujia APRIL: The groundbreaking would become instrumental in ceremony takes place for the establishing the University of construction of the campus in the Nottingham Ningbo China. Also Higher Education Park in Yinzhou pictured are Professor Ian Gow, district. first Provost, and the then Chair of the UNNC Board, Xu Yafen. SEPTEMBER: UNNC admits its first preliminary year students using accommodation on the campus of Zhejiang Wanli University. 03 04 Annual Quality Report 2018-2019 2011 MAY: The Centre for Sustainable JULY: First graduation APRIL: Former Chinese Premier JUNE: UNNC hosts the Energy Technologies (CSET) ceremony for the first cohort of Wen Jiabao pays a surprise visit. Tri- Campus Games for the opens. This is China's first carbon- undergraduates takes place. He says: “I am very happy to be first time. neutral building, in the shape of here to see international and a traditional Chinese lantern. Its Chinese students learning together staff and postgraduates work DECEMBER: UNNC is granted a and developing together. The on zero-carbon and alternative licence to accept PhD students by location is here, but the University energy solutions. the Chinese Ministry of Education. has a world view, so students also 2012 have a global perspective.” 2010 2008 APRIL: The International Doctoral Innovation Centre opens to train over 100 research leaders to play OCTOBER: UNNC students take second key roles in energy technologies place at the Students in Free Enterprise and the digital economy. 2009 (SIFE) World Cup, a global competition to find socially responsible business concepts. Their venture, Beevelop, promotes honey sales and has equipped OCTOBER: bee-keepers with the skills to raise wild The first PhD bees. Beevelop improved bee husbandry students through initiatives involving better start at design and location of beehives, disease UNNC. protection, and financial literacy training and business partnership with a local wholesale honey company. The project also protects the endangered Chinese wild bee. 05 06 Annual Quality Report 2018-2019 JULY: Sherin Abu MAY: A Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Taleb (Business, Education’s review finds that UNNC has achieved year 3), WANG its goal of giving students the ‘Nottingham Ping and LI Xiaoting experience’ in China. UNNC was an “impressive (International achievement”, with “fruitful” relationships with Comms, year 4) 2018 other Chinese universities, and had a positive win an international impact on the city of Ningbo. marketing award in Paris. AUGUST: UNNC, Ningbo Municipal Government and Zhejiang Wanli Education Group sign a £25 DECEMBER: UNNC million agreement to create the International announces the Academy for the Marine Economy and Technology. recruitment of 20 LI Dak Sum Chair JANUARY: Business lecturer Michele Geraci is appointed NOVEMBER: First PhD students graduate. Professors, a key as Under-Secretary for Economic Development in the Italian initiative towards government. advancing the AUGUST: Passing Hope, a charity focusing on sports UNNC's 10-year anniversary University’s teaching, education for disadvantaged children, has built 21 football brings alumni, partners, research, knowledge pitches for primary schools in the west of China; alumni staff, officials and friends of exchange, and Belle Chen, BSc International Business Management, and UNNC to the campus for a global engagement Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed Falalu, MSc Entrepreneurship, series of celebratory events. agendas. are named in Forbes’ 30-under-30 list.