What we can learn from China’s battle with the coronavirus?

Last week, the Nottingham China Health Institute (NCHI) at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) and the Asian Business Centre at the University of Nottingham UK (UNUK) arranged a link-up between specialists at Ningbo No.1 Hospital who led the treatment of COVID-19 both in Ningbo and the team in Wuhan, and NHS people in the UK. There is on-going engagement between the specialists via a WeChat group.

“The cooperation between medical specialists in Nottingham and Ningbo last week to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic shows that knowledge exchange between the UK and China in healthcare is a two-way flow. Nottingham specialists were able to learn from the experience of their Ningbo counterparts about early identification and treatment of the coronavirus," explained Professor Stephen Morgan, Executive Director of NCHI.

Professor Richard Hubbard, Director of NCHI, also added, “The information from China/Ningbo has been invaluable. We have set up our patient algorithm and flow to map on to what the No.1 Hospital did. The CT images sent from China have become the main teaching document for all of the radiology and respiratory departments. This has been gold dust for us to get ahead of this wave.”

The Nottingham China Health Institute, a coordination platform established in 2018, has led to the building of closer research, teaching and training collaboration in health between China and the health specialists on our three campuses.

How have we prepared for student teaching and learning amid the outbreak?

With the epidemic becoming increasingly severe in foreign countries, schools and universities from over 22 countries and regions have halted normal classes temporarily. UNNC implemented the plan to deliver all teaching online in early March. Faculties in Ningbo have accumulated invaluable experience on how to deliver online teaching efficiently by leveraging technology.

Starting from 23rd March, the University of Nottingham UK also changed to online teaching. The NUBS (Nottingham University Business School) Global Advisory Board meeting took place on Wednesday. Dr Fui-Theng Leow as the e-Learning Lead and Dr Peter Morgan as the Associate Dean for Education and Student Experience at NUBS China were invited to join the meeting to share their experiences with the University Deans and advisory board members in the UK, Malaysia and Germany. Dr Leow introduced NUBS China’s experience in online teaching from several aspects: tools, pedagogy and support. Professor Duncan Angwin, Dean of NUBS UK, commented that the sharing of experience and information was definitely helpful.

University-wide, UNNC has made over 400 online modules available to UK colleagues.

The NUBS Global Advisory Board provides strategic advice on the direction of Nottingham University Business School, including current activities and future development across all campuses. It seeks to enhance the global profile of the School both externally and internally; and acts as an internal and external advocate for the globalisation of Nottingham University Business School.

The pandemic is a historic and ongoing event. How long will this go on? No one knows. China is stepping up efforts to help other countries by sharing its experience, shipping anti-virus supplies and sending its medical staff to other countries. Only joint action and cooperation can ensure victory in the fight against the novel coronavirus.