Ms Yip Yio Chin, with her compassion and exceptional personal qualities, has generously donated a total of almost RMB 190,000,000 to the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) in collaboration with Dr Li Dak Sum. These donations have supported the establishment of the Li Yip Yio Chin Scholarship, renovation of the library, establishment of the Li Dak Sum Innovation Fellowship, and Li Dak Sum Chair Professor Fund, among others, making remarkable contributions to the educational development of UNNC. The Li Family’s patriotism, dedication to society, and support for education have become a bright beacon for UNNC students and staff. The UNNC community will always be grateful for the care and support the Li Family have shown to the university.
On 23 September 2023, Ms Yip Yio Chin peacefully passed away in Singapore at the age of 100. Below, a heartfelt tribute to her life and impact can be read.
Establishment of the Li Yip Yio Chin Scholarship
"National strength comes from people, and talent development arises from education." Dr Li Dak Sum and Ms Yip Yio Chin have high hopes for the students of UNNC and have been concerned about the university's development. In May 2008, Dr Li Dak Sum and Ms Yip Yio Chin, along with their family and more than 30 distinguished guests, attended the first undergraduate graduation ceremony of UNNC. During the ceremony, Dr Li was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the University of Nottingham. He greatly appreciated the educational philosophy and talent cultivation model of UNNC and alongside his wife, donated RMB 4.8 million to establish the Li Yip Yio Chin Scholarship. This scholarship aims to reward outstanding high school graduates from China who enrol at UNNC, enabling more ambitious young people to have access to high-quality educational resources and fulfil their dreams for the country.
In early May 2015, in the serene and beautiful Victoria Harbour, Professor Yang Fujia, the President of UNNC, met with his alumnus and close friend, Dr Li Dak Sum, and Ms Yip Yio Chin in Central, Hong Kong. This occasion marked the tenth anniversary of the founding of UNNC, and President Yang Fu Jia made a special visit to Dr Li Dak Sum on this occasion. President Yang brought a book of student testimonials edited by UNNC students and a gift handmade by the students to thank Dr Li for his support for education in his hometown and the development of UNNC. In the conversation, Dr Li wrote down the following words: "Start with diligence, pursue integrity, aim high, feel at home wherever you are, do not impose on others what you do not desire, pool the strength of all for common interests, achieve success in our cause, invest in education, give back to our hometown." These words not only represent the life of Dr Li Dak Sum and Ms Yip Yio Chin but also serve as guiding principles for the students and staff of UNNC. At the same time, these words also convey the couple's hopes for education and their care for UNNC.
In the same year, Dr Li Dak Sum and Ms Yip Yio Chin generously donated a further RMB 20 million to continue supporting the scholarship programme. The Li Yip Yio Chin Scholarship is the highest academic honour given to undergraduate students at UNNC. Since its establishment, nearly 200 outstanding students from more than 20 provinces and autonomous regions, including Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Xinjiang, Guizhou, Shaanxi, Inner Mongolia, Hainan, and Yunnan, have received this prestigious scholarship. Many of the recipients have achieved high scores in the college entrance examination, comparable to those accepted by top universities such as Fudan University, Zhejiang University, and Nankai University. The Li Yip Yio Chin Scholarship not only promotes the development and enhances the quality of students at UNNC but also motivates students to continue their efforts after enrolment. Such a significant scholarship is rare among universities in China and provides much-needed support to students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds who aspire to receive an international education.
Supporting the UNNC Library
A library is considered the soul of a university and plays a crucial role in teaching, research, and talent development. Its significance lies not only in storing knowledge but also in cultivating the individual spirit. From UNNC’s inception, great importance has been placed on library construction.
In 2005, Dr Li Dak Sum and Ms Yip Yio Chin, donated RMB 4.4 million to assist in the construction of the UNNC library. Among the donations, RMB 2.8 million was used to purchase more than 7,900 volumes of original books, making up the initial library collection. An additional RMB 1.3 million was used to subscribe to printed journals and electronic journal databases.
In September 2017, Dr Li Dak Sum and Ms Yip Yio Chin, and their grandson, Mr Kenneth Li, donated a further RMB 40 million to support the Li Yip Yio Chin Scholarship. In commemoration of the generous donations made by the Li Dak Sum family, the library was named the Li Dak Sum, Yip Yio Chin, and Kenneth Li Library. This newly designed multi-functional library, covering an area of 23,000 square meters, is located in the heart of the campus and provides nearly 2,000 extra learning spaces for students and staff. Since its completion and use in 2021, it has become one of UNNC's landmark buildings, providing high-quality space for comprehensive learning, multimedia teaching, and research.
Over the years, thanks to the trust, support, and inspiration provided by Dr Li Dak Sum, Ms Yip Yio Chin, and their family, UNNC has been striving for excellence, attracting talented students and staff, and focusing on teaching and research. The university has developed distinct characteristics in international education, achieving remarkable results and establishing a strong reputation, becoming a model for Sino-foreign cooperation in education.
With great sincerity, Dr Li Dak Sum, Ms Yip Yio Chin, and their family, have dedicated themselves to public welfare, making outstanding contributions to the educational cause in their hometown and by extension, its very future.
May the memory of Ms Yip Yio Chin be everlasting.