On the occasion of the successful conclusion of the 25th-anniversary celebration of Nottingham University Business School, from 26 to 29 October, Professor David Park, Dean of Nottingham University Business School, and Professor David Goodwin, Dean of Nottingham University Business School Malaysia, visited the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) and met with Professor Kok Wei Khong, Dean of Nottingham University Business School China, to discuss how to strengthen further their cooperation in teaching, research, and student activities, and jointly explore the development strategy of the business school in the Second Quarter Century to come.
The gathering of the three deans from China, the UK, and Malaysia once again demonstrated the unique advantage of the Nottingham University Business School as a truly international business school. The Nottingham University Global Education Network brings together learning resources from Europe, China, and Southeast Asia, providing students with a diverse and international learning platform. This platform not only broadens students' international perspectives and enriches their learning experiences but also provides strong support for the business school's commitment to developing responsible, forward-thinking, and influential business leaders.
On 26 October, Professor David Goodwin, accompanied by Professor Kok Wei Khong, visited Unitree Robotics with students and faculty members. As an enterprise with outstanding achievements in the field of robotics technology, Unitree showcased its latest research and development achievements in humanoid robots and intelligent devices. These cutting-edge technologies not only bring changes to the industry but also provide valuable inspiration for teaching and research at the business school. This visit is a part of the Nexus for Innovation and Entrepreneurship programme under the UNNC Ingenuity Lab, which aims to expand students' horizons, enhance their connections with the business community, and inspire their innovative and entrepreneurial ideas through enterprise visits and other activities.
On 28 October, the three deans also met with Professor Jon Garibaldi, Provost of UNNC, and visited the UNNC Museum and campus. This was the first visit for Professor David Park and Professor David Goodwin to UNNC. At the Museum, they showed a keen interest in UNNC's development over the past 20 years. During the campus tour, the integrated Chinese and British environment, advanced teaching and research facilities, and diverse living facilities at UNNC were impressive and received high praise.
On 29 October, accompanied by Professor Kok Wei Khong, and Dr Jie Yu, Associate Dean for Global Engagement and Partnership at Nottingham University Business School China, Professor David Park and Professor David Goodwin also visited the subsidiary of Hape Group, led by Mr Peter Handstein, Founder & CEO of Hape Group, Chairman of the Nottingham University Business School China Advisory Board. As a well-known enterprise focusing on children's toy design and production, Hape's innovative and sustainable development concepts coincide with the educational philosophy of the Nottingham University Business School.
Currently, the business schools in three campuses have carried out a few collaborative activities in innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development, including the Tri-Campus Conference, which provides a platform for knowledge exchange and cooperation for scholars and PhD students of the business schools. The Ingenuity Lab Summer Bootcamp aims to inspire students' entrepreneurial passion and enhance their employability. This year, the smart Global Store Sustainable Operation Design Competition, hosted by the Center for Responsible Business and Innovation at UNNC, provided a cross-border, cross-disciplinary cooperation and practice platform for students from the three campuses.
Professor Kok Wei Khong, Dean of Nottingham University Business School China, expressed his commitment to continuously promoting in-depth cooperation among the three campuses, by sharing educational resources, conducting joint programmes and research collaborations, and jointly building an innovative business school oriented towards the future.