Celebrations are planned over the next year to mark ten years since The University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) opened its doors in the country.

An official launch event earlier this month, celebrated key milestones in its development since becoming the first Sino-foreign university in China.

Events planned throughout the year include receptions at the British Embassies in Beijing and London, and international conferences and a student summit at the UNNC campus.

April 2014 marks a decade since the ground-breaking ceremony took place for the construction of the University, while September 2004 saw the first preliminary year students arrive, studying mainly arts and social science subjects.

Professor Nick Miles, Provost at UNNC, said: “The events and activities planned over the year are intended not only to celebrate the key milestones in our history but to also celebrate the people that have contributed to what UNNC is today – from our students, our alumni and our past and present staff.

“Looking to the future, we want to develop and enhance the student community, to maintain excellence in the provision of teaching and learning and to deliver high-impact research to address global challenges as well as the city and region’s needs.”

When new legislation was passed in 2003 allowing Sino-foreign universities into China, Nottingham collaborated with Zhejiang Wanli Education Group, a key player in the education sector in China, to create a new campus.

From fewer than 300 predominately Chinese students when it opened, the UNNC now has more than 6,000 students from more than 60 countries worldwide, creating a truly international environment in which to study.

A new website: www.nottingham.edu.cn/en/tenyears/index.aspx showcases historic information about UNNC including a timeline, photographs of the development of the campus, and student and alumni achievements over the past ten years.
A campaign on social media channels, Sina Weibo and Twitter, will gather people’s memories of UNNC, using the hashtag #UNNCmemories

Ningbo milestones

2004: Construction begins at the Higher Education Park in Ningbo’s Yinzhou district. By September, the first 254 students arrive.

2005: On an official visit to China, former Prime Minister Tony Blair endorses UNNC in a broadcast for China Central Television (CCTV) from Beijing.

2006: The University’s 144-acre campus is officially opened.
Xi Jinping, now President of China, visits the University.

2008: The Centre for Sustainable Energy Technologies (CSET) is opened as China’s first carbon-neutral building. The first undergraduate graduation ceremony takes place and a license to accept PhD students by the Chinese Ministry of Education is approved.

2011: A new science and engineering building opens with teaching laboratories and seminar and lecture rooms.

2013: The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education finds that the University has achieved its goal of providing students with the ‘Nottingham experience’ in China. Professor Nick Miles, Provost of UNNC, receives an OBE in recognition of his work to further UK/China educational interests.