Professor Chris Rudd is take over as Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Provost at The University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC).

He succeeds Professor Nick Miles OBE, who is returning to the UK after five highly successful years in charge of UNNC. He oversaw an expansion of the student body, developments in research capacity, new collaborations with business and government, and growth of its infrastructure. UNNC has just celebrated its 10th anniversary.

As Pro-Vice-Chancellor for External Engagement, Professor Rudd has brought many Chinese corporates into UK partnerships and taken technology transfer missions to China – focusing on energy, aerospace, automotive, food and drink, creative industries, pharma/healthcare and financial services.

He is Professor of Mechanical Engineering and has worked extensively to build long-lasting partnerships that benefit both countries – meeting China’s needs for technology and talent and the western need for new markets.

Professor Rudd said: “UNNC is a unique and exciting place and I really feel honoured to be asked to help steer it through the next phase of its evolution.”

Professor Rudd created Nottingham’s Asia Business Centre and led Nottingham’s presence at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. He chairs the Nottingham Confucius Institute and is a Board Director of the China Britain Business Council and a guest Professor at Jilin University.

Professor Miles has been Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Provost since 2010 and will hand over formally to his successor on August 1. He said: “It has been an honour to have had this opportunity to lead UNNC through the past five years and to work with such great people.”