International impact
International impact
China’s Premier Wen Jiabao paid a surprise visit to the students and staff at The University of Nottingham Ningbo China on 8 April.
Premier Wen spent about two hours at the University, first shaking hands with students in the crowd of hundreds who gathered outside the administration building to welcome him and then moving on to chat to business students about their research projects.
China’s Premier told the students: “I am very happy to be here to see international students and Chinese students learning together and developing together. This is like an international family.”
He said of The University of Nottingham Ningbo China: “The location is here, but the University has a world view, so students also have a global perspective. To international students, I would ask you to regard this as your home.”
Speaking during a visit to The University of Nottingham Ningbo China today (October 4), Mr Yang said the Sino-British relationship was developing rapidly and was encompassing political, economic and social dimensions.
“The UK-China relationship has really unfolded in many different ways,” Mr Yang said. “Our relationship is on the right way forward”.
Mr Yang, a former Ambassador to the United States and educated at the University of Bath and the London School of Economics, said his visit to the Ningbo campus was “a dream come true” because he’d heard so much about the University, its research, students and teaching.
Mme Chen Zhili, Councillor of the State Council of P.R.C, said, "There are 90,000 Chinese students studying in UK now. However, I think if the University of Nottingham Ningbo China succeeds, some of these students will regret going to UK, because not all of these students are studying in the prestigious universities such as Nottingham, Cambridge and Oxford. Actually many students are studying in relatively ordinary universities. As the Chinese saying, goes the new generation will always surpass the old one. So it is my wish that this Ningbo Campus will be someday more successful than the University of Nottingham."
Tree Planting by State Councillor Mme Chen Zhili and Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott
Prime Minister Tony Blair discussed at length the opening of the new Nottingham campus. Mr Blair was taking part in a broadcast for China Central Television in Beijing. The studio presentation was also linked live to the campus at Ningbo, where it was being watched by an audience of staff and students.China Central Television played the broadcast on the "Top Talk" programme, and later the BBC broadcasted it around the world on its satellite news programmes.Back in Nottingham, Dr Christine Humfrey, Director of the University's International Office, told BBC News 24 that the event marked an "historic day not only for the University of Nottingham and its internationalization strategy, but for thewhole of UK higher education". Richard Pascoe, Director of the University's China Policy Institute, put the project into the broader China context for the BBC News 24 audience.
Prime Minister Tony Blair with Professor Yang Fujia, President of the University of Nottingham Ningbo, China and the top Year One students Song Hangli and Wang Shuyan.
UK Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, on his official visit to formally open the University of Nottingham, Ningbo China, also took the opportunity to commemorate the construction of a new research institute. He has, as part of his ministerial portfolio, overall responsibility for and a strong interest in environmental affairs. He, together with State Councillor Chen Zhili, planted British and Chinese trees respectively, to celebrate the major funding and groundbreaking for the Ko Lee Institute of Sustainable Development. The first centre of this institute, the Centre for Alternative Energy Technology, will be housed in a state-of-the-art ‘eco-building'. This research institute, courtesy of sponsorship from the Chung Educational Foundation, represents the Nottingham commitment to blending University of Nottingham international research strengths with Chinese needs.
The former Governor of New Jersey, USA, Mr. James Mcgreevey, paid a visit to the University of Nottingham Ningbo, China, accompanied by the Provost, Professor Ian Gow.
Twenty members of the British Council in China visited the University of Nottingham Ningbo, China and were impressed by the beautiful environment and the unique architecture, which integrates design elements from both Chinese and British traditions.
Former Lord Mayor of Nottingham, UK, Councilor Brent Charles Worth; Ambassador of UK to China, Sir Christopher Hum; Secretary of Ningbo Municipal Party Committee, Bayin Chaolu;
Consul General, Ms. Sue Bishop at the ground breaking ceremony.
Mme Yowvares Shinawatra, President of the National Council of Women of Thailand, visited the University of Nottingham Ningbo, China, accompanied by Professor Ian Gow, Provost and Professor Lu Junsheng, Deputy Party Secretary of the university.
Dr Li Dak Sum, the Ningbo Honorary Citizen as well as famous Hong Kong entrepreneur at a ceremony honouring donations by himself and his wife to the libraries of the University of Nottingham Ningbo, China.
Academician Han Qide, Deputy Chairman of the National People's Congress, P.R.C
"Establishment of the University of Nottingham, Ningbo, China is a milestone for the internationalization of Chinese higher education. The University of Nottingham, Ningbo, China, has a world class teaching team, has advanced ideas of education management and student-centred teaching methods. The Teaching Quality Assurance System for teaching will be the same as for the University of Nottingham in the UK. All the above will provide valuable experience for the establishment of a modern education management system for Chinese universities and improvements at management level."
Mr. Xi Jinping, Party Secretary of Zhejiang province, P.R.C"This university has set the very first example for all the institutes of higher education in China to follow. It combines
higher education of China and high quality education resources of foreign countries. This will actually propel the Chinese education onto the world stage as well as inject new vitality into Zhejiang Higher Education. I'm sure this success will improve the level of education in Zhejiang Province as well as promote the political, economic, and culture exchanges between Zhejiang province and the UK."
The University of Nottingham, UK signing the contract with Zhejiang Wanli University. Minister of Ministry of Education, Zhou Ji attended the ceremony.
Professor Sir Peter Mansfield, 2003 Nobel Prize winner of the University of Nottingham
"I am proud to associate my work with the achievements of the University of Nottingham and I have every confidence in the future of the new campus at Ningbo. I wish every success to the staff and students at Ningbo in this exciting and historic venture."
Sir Christopher Hum, Former British Ambassador to P.R.C"We are committed to Britain remaining a key partner from China as its education system continues to expand."
Ms Sue Bishop, Consul-General British Consulate Shanghai "Your success will be a guiding beacon for a great number of students and perhaps for more universities in future years.
You are contributing to the strong and deep relationships that exist between the UK and China."
Mrs. Liu Yandong, Member of Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and State Councillor paid a visit to UNNC.
Mrs. Liu pointed out that The University of Nottingham is a world-leading university, and that the cooperation between the UK and China is not only a successful venture but also provides precious experience to other Sino-foreign cooperation universities. The cooperation contributes to the friendly relationship between the two countries. She hoped there would be more cooperation between The University of Nottingham and China, and UNNC would become better and better.
Speaking at The University of Nottingham Ningbo, China, Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, also as an alumni of the University of Nottingham, Mr Jeremy Browne MP said Britain wants more UK students to experience university in China, now the world’s second-largest economy. The emergence of the Ningbo campus is “testament to the Ningbo government’s far-sighted vision in developing foreign ties and international relationships, as well, of course, as my alma mater’s in responding to that vision”.
