The eighth session of the "Let'S talk!" event series was successfully held, which was jointly organized by the Center for Responsible Business and Innovation (CRBI) and the Health and Wellbeing Centre (HWC) of the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC). The event brought together professionals from academic and business fields who have continuously focused on disability-inclusive employment in recent years. They discussed ways to better integrate different groups in business practices and promote social inclusivity.
Dr Xuan Feng, Associate Professor in Human Resource Management and Organizational Behaviour at the Business School presided over the event. At the beginning of the event, Professor Jing Dai, Director of CRBI, said, "This event coincides with the UNNC Disability Awareness Campaign, and it is very meaningful for us to gather together to explore how to build a more inclusive and integrated society." Professor Dai also shared that CRBI has reached a partnership with B Corps China, providing an opportunity for UNNC faculty and students to enter the world's leading sustainable and impactful businesses and gain a deeper understanding of sustainable development practices and challenges in China.
During the expert speech section, several guests shared their efforts and achievements in building inclusive communities.
Ms Jean Wu, Senior Disability Support Advisor at HWC, advocated for building an "Accessible Campus" and discussed how to support and address the needs of disabled students from the perspective of HWC. She emphasized the importance of the International Day of Disabled Persons in increasing public support and inclusion of disabled individuals and shared UNNC's efforts in disability inclusion, including a one-week Disability Awareness Campaign and how these events increase public awareness. It is worth mentioning that the student team of HWC created a rare disease science exhibition to raise awareness and understanding of the needs and difficulties of special groups through the exhibition.
Professor Pei-Lee Teh, Head of Department of Management at the School of Business and Director of the Gerontechnology Laboratory at Monash University Malaysia, shared her groundbreaking work at the Aging Technology Laboratory and her efforts to assist the disabled community. Professor Teh introduced the 2021-2030 Strategic Plan of Monash University, which includes responding to climate change, geopolitical conflicts, community welfare, and providing personal career guidance and support to disabled graduates in recent years, helping 74% of disabled graduates secure employment opportunities in their field.
Ms Lili Zhang, Founder of LiLi Time, is committed to providing integrated employment for the hearing-impaired and mentally disabled communities, with an inclusive employment rate of 80%. LiLi Time is a social enterprise that does not rely on donations or government subsidies, using an innovative business model to solve social problems and is the only coffee shop in Shanghai certified as a "Chinese social enterprise". LiLi Time trains hearing-impaired individuals in the skills of coffee making. It is reported that two LiLi Time stores have employed nearly 80 hearing-impaired baristas who exhibit extraordinary dedication and can produce quality foam by using temperature sensed through touch. Today, LiLi Time has become a part of the Shanghai community, and many hearing-impaired youth have gained confidence through their work.
The roundtable discussion was moderated by Professor Zhao Cai, Professor in Information Systems at the Nottingham University Business School China. Ms Jinfeng Sun, Assistant Director for Intercultural Education and Belonging, Student Accessibility Services Office, Duke Kunshan University, Ms Jean Wu, Professor Pei-Lee Teh, and Ms Lili Zhang, shared their experiences on how to provide more opportunities for different groups and overcome economic and social barriers through innovative business models and educational practices to promote inclusive development.
The "Let'S talk!" event series has been a resounding success since its launch in 2024, having been held eight times. These events have covered various fields, including supply chain, finance, inclusive technology, decentralized AI, regional sustainable development, showcasing the series' diversity and inclusivity. This session of the "Let'S talk!" event was a collaboration with experts from various fields and focused on the theme of Inclusive Community. This event not only helped faculty and students gain a better understanding of inclusive business environments but also inspired them to more effectively integrate different groups in future business practices. This effort aims to promote social progress and contribute to building a more inclusive and harmonious social environment.