The University of Nottingham has deepened its engagement with China with the launch of a joint venture in Shanghai with the East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST).

The Shanghai Nottingham Advanced Academy (SNAA) will deliver joint courses in China’s biggest city.

Primary areas for collaboration at the Academy will be in life sciences, green technology, aerospace, and global food security — key strengths of both universities.

These subjects will complement courses at the Nottingham campus in Ningbo, in nearby Zhejiang province.

Professor Hai-Sui Yu, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for International Campuses at The University of Nottingham, said: “Our vision for the Academy is to develop an international hub of higher education, research, training and business engagement of the highest quality in science and technology through dynamic partnerships between universities, industries and government organisations.

“At the Academy, future generations of industry and academic leaders will undertake unique undergraduate and postgraduate courses and doctoral training within a research-led and industry-focused environment.

“We are confident that the Shanghai Nottingham Advanced Academy will establish a long-term partnership between the leading UK and Chinese universities and industry, and provide a major platform for international collaborative research and knowledge transfer activities, particularly between the UK and China.”

The Academy will deliver courses and training as part of degree programmes at both Nottingham and ECUST.

Undergraduates and postgraduates will spend time at ECUST, the Academy and The University of Nottingham. At doctoral level, 30 PhD students will be recruited over the next three years to research in life sciences, green technology, aerospace, and global food security. An International Doctoral Innovation Centre will also be established at the Academy, integrating innovation-led research and doctoral training, while exposing students to industry and entrepreneurship internationally.

The two universities will later work with the Fengxian District Government and industry partners to establish an R&D innovation park in Fengxian. The park, the International Translational Research and Business Engagement Centre, will work to commercialise some of the fundamental discoveries produced from the International Doctorial Innovation Centre.