On 25th January, the first corporate donation ceremony of 2024 was held at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC). Four organisations, including Bank of China Ningbo Branch, Lygend Resources & Technology Co. Ltd., Ningbo Henghou Park Housing Rental Co. Ltd., and Ningbo Henghou Industries Co. Ltd., made a total donation of RMB 1.7 million. Professor Sam Shen, the UNNC Party Secretary and Chairman of UNNC Education Foundation, delivered a speech and presented donation certificates to the contributing companies.
Professor Shen expressed his gratitude to the four companies for their contributions to the educational development of the university, saying: “These donations will help the university provide better digital learning environments and facilities for students, promote the innovative development of the school, and assist UNNC in leveraging its advantages as a Sino-foreign cooperative university to cultivate international talents with global perspectives. The Education Foundation will continue to play a bridging and connecting role, fully supporting and promoting the long-term construction and development of UNNC. Let us work together to make greater contributions to the development of science and education in our country.”
Xingyan Chen, General Manager of Business Department of Bank of China Ningbo Branch, said in her speech, “Bank of China has had a 20-year partnership with UNNC. In these 20 years of collaboration, both sides have deepened exchanges and cooperation, witnessing each other’s growth and development. Today, UNNC has become a splendid representative for international education in Ningbo and Zhejiang province. UNNC has not only provided a channel for Chinese students to go abroad but also opened a window for people from various countries to understand China. In the future, Bank of China Ningbo Branch hopes to leverage its advantages in the integration of industry, academia, and research, and capacities in practical training and career planning, to provide more learning and practical opportunities for UNNC students, helping them better integrate into society and realise their personal value.”
Feng Fei, Deputy General Manager of Lygend Resources & Technology Co., Ltd., stated in her speech, “UNNC has built a bridge for Ningbo students to connect with the world, which is a common point we share at Lygend. Lygend Resources & Technology actively participates in public welfare undertakings and contributes to society in the fields of healthcare, sports, education, and rural revitalization. Lygend deeply understands the importance of talent development for technological advancement. UNNC Education Foundation effectively transforms various resources to support the improvement of educational quality and academic research, and its philanthropic philosophy and management level have been widely recognized by society. The Foundation is not only a bridge and bond between donors and the university, but also a dedicated platform for the joint efforts of the university. Education has significant impact on the future and destiny of a nation, and Lygend is willing to contribute to the national educational cause together with UNNC.”
Jun Ye, Deputy General Manager of Henghou Group, mentioned in his speech, “Henghou Group adheres to its core values of ‘Creating value, upholding morality, and giving back to society’ and actively undertakes social responsibilities, making due contributions to social development. Henghou Group deeply understands the importance of education for the country, society, enterprises, and individuals. Education is the foundation for cultivating talents and enhancing the cultural literacy of the population, as well as the driving force behind social progress. Through this donation, Henghou hopes to contribute to the cause of education in China, helping more students to acquire better educational opportunities and contributing to the construction of a better society. We hope to establish a closer cooperative relationship with UNNC in the future, complementing each other’s strengths, sharing resources, and actively exploring new paths in the integration of industry, academia, and research, as well as achieving greater results in talent cultivation and research support, thus making contributions to the development of local education in Ningbo.”
The donation ceremony was presided over by Lei He, the Interim Director of the Development and Alumni Relations Office. Representatives from UNNC’s Finance Office, Business Development Office, Strategy and Planning Team, and Careers and Employability Service Office also attended the ceremony. They had discussions and exchanges with the representatives of the donating companies regarding talent cultivation, company visits, future cooperation, and more.
The classic Chinese saying goes, “It takes ten years to grow a tree, but a hundred years to cultivate a people.” Education is the foundation of national prosperity. UNNC will continue to strive to live up to the expectations of its supporters, always adhering to its vision, mission, values, and goals, and working hard to continue its legacy as an high-level, internationally renowned Sino-foreign cooperative university.