UNNC and KPMG signed the memorandum at UNNC's New International Conference Centre. Professor Martin Lockett, Dean of Nottingham University Business School China (NUBS China), and Mr Lane Zhang, Senior Partner of KPMG Ningbo, delivered speeches on behalf of both parties, while student representative Geng Lingna shared her views. To officially complete the ceremony, Professor May Tan-Mullins, Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning at UNNC, and Mr William Gong, Vice Chairman of KPMG China, jointly unveiled a plaque to commemorate the signing of the memorandum. The event was chaired by Dr Huimin Song, Director of the MSc Finance and Investment (Professional Accounting) Programme.

UNNC and KPMG Ningbo’s cooperation is the result of shared objectives in developing accounting education and providing high-quality graduate opportunities. As the first Sino-foreign University in China, UNNC has won wide acclaim for its high-quality education and outstanding graduates. In the past three years, KPMG has attracted many graduates from UNNC who have combined their knowledge and energy with local KPMG service teams’ leading industry position and corporate culture.  KPMG Ningbo was established in April 2020. With this cooperation, based on UNNC’s teaching plans and training programmes, KPMG Ningbo together with KPMG Hangzhou will provide 20 internship positions to Professional Accounting students for 9 weeks for each academic year. During these internships, certified accountants from KPMG Ningbo with rich experience will supervise the interns, helping them to improve professional, theoretical and practical abilities.

The MSc Finance and Investment (Professional Accounting) programme is a full-time, postgraduate degree studied over two years, including the opportunity to undertake two blocks of paid and assessed internship placement with a large international accounting firm.

In addition to the internship platform, UNNC and KPMG Ningbo will collaborate in other areas. "To develop core expertise in research and produce world-changing outcomes" is one of UNNC's missions, and UNNC's focus on digital technology, advanced materials and manufacturing, is also one of KPMG's strategic priorities. Both parties are committed to proposing a series of innovative solutions for the digital transformation of different industries. KPMG Ningbo will join hands with UNNC to continue to build a team of high-quality talent through cooperation and provide effective talent training. The collaboration will promote regional technology and mobilisation of talent, and enhance the core competitiveness of regional development to jointly build future success.