On 29 March, Ningbo Demohood hosted a Student Innovation and Social Impacts Market, organised by the Nottingham University Business School China Student Engagement and Employability Development (SEED) Scheme and the Ingenuity Lab of the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC). Twenty student teams transformed distinctive ideas into experiential market stalls, attracting crowds with projects ranging from traditional Chinese herbal sachets to coffee grounds upcycling, and from rural tea culture reinterpretations to urban sustainability designs. The event demonstrates contemporary youths' multi-faceted understanding of urban-rural dynamics, alongside their innovative approaches to bridging cultural traditions with modern sustainability.

This market champions a diversified lifestyle ethos, divided into Urban and Rural sectors to harmonise the therapeutic ambiance of rural living with the dynamic opportunities inherent to urban environments. Under faculty mentorship, UNNC students have infused creative elements from daily life into their merchandise and services, showcasing remarkable practical fervour.

"This market serves as students' first step into society and a training ground for innovative thinking," emphasised Professor Kok Wei Khong, Dean of Nottingham University Business School China during the event. "It constructs a micro educational ecosystem where students grasp commercial ethics, social responsibility, and the boundaries of innovation through hands-on practice."

The student market is part of the Innovation and Social Impacts module under the SEED Scheme. Dr Yi Wang, Director for Educational Partnership at the Business School, explained: "This module we designed employs market stall operations as a hands-on pedagogical approach, enabling students to confront real-world market demands while cultivating their capacity to drive societal value creation through business innovation." Using the coffee-bean bracelet project as an example, she elaborated: "The module encourages integrating innovative ideas with community needs—for instance, upcycling coffee grounds into cultural products. This not only reduces waste but also delivers emotional value to urban dwellers. Innovation remains irreplaceable by AI."

Dr Lin Huang, Module Convener for Innovation and Social Impacts, expressed: "We encourage students to step beyond the classroom and validate their ideas in real-world market environments. Through iterative experimentation, they clarify their professional trajectories. This isn't merely academic training—it's a journey of self-discovery."

At the event, the herbal sachet workshop drew significant engagement. Participants curated bespoke herb blends based on therapeutic needs, grinding ingredients like mint and mugwort in traditional mortars. The rhythmic process released aromatic essences, creating an immersive fusion of cultural preservation and stress relief. A Malaysian student enthused: "The mugwort scent reminds me of hometown herbal baths, but the team’s redesign—infusing tradition with edgy aesthetics—makes cultural elements irresistibly cool!"

Student teams from the Ingenuity Lab also conducted real-world market research in Demohood. Through presentations, questionnaires, and in-depth interviews, they gathered unfiltered consumer insights. One team reflected: "Transitioning from proposals to facing customers taught us how to make innovations resonate."

Dr Jie Yu, Associate Dean for Global Engagement and Partnership at the Business School remarked: "These 20 projects are not just business prototypes, but the courage and ingenuity of youth leveraging innovation to address societal challenges. Their work balances problem-solving with humanistic values—a hallmark of globally minded education."

It is worth mentioning that all proceeds from this student market will support the UNNC Education Foundation, fostering students' development.