Projects

This is a newly developed master's program led by Professor Jing DAI, Director of RCE Ningbo, co-planned and executed by Dr Steven ZHOU, Deputy Director of RCE Ningbo and Dr Weiping LIU, Assistant Professor in International Business and Strategy from Nottingham University Business School China. It is designed to bridge the gap between management and sustainable development, and it aims to equip students with the expertise to address global sustainability challenges and lead the transition to a green economy.

The core development work of this project currently includes:

• Programme Vision & Curriculum Design: Developed a comprehensive curriculum that balances theoretical knowledge with practical application, focusing on the intersection of business management and sustainable development.

• Learning Outcomes: Defined clear learning objectives to ensure graduates can analyze global sustainability trends, develop and implement sustainable business strategies, and measure impact.

• Module Structure: Completed the detailed structure for all core and elective modules, including learning materials, assessment strategies, and pedagogical approaches.

• Approval Documentation: Compiled and finalized the full proposal dossier required for the approval process.

The programme directly supports the following SDGs:

• SDG 4: Quality Education - The programme itself is a direct contribution to ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all, with a specific focus on sustainability.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth - The programme cultivates inclusive economic growth and decent work for all by equipping students to implement sustainable business practices and responsible management.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure - The curriculum fosters training and knowledge on building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable manufacturing, and fostering innovation. 

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production - Core modules are dedicated to sustainable management, ethical sourcing, and green innovation, empowering students to use resources efficiently, reduce waste, and integrate circular economy principles.

• SDG 13: Climate Action - The programme equips students with the skills to understand, mitigate, and adapt to climate change through business policy, carbon accounting, and green innovation. 

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals - The programme emphasizes the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships to achieve sustainable development goals. 

The programme is planned for a 2027 intake and is currently in the final approval stage. Once approved, the focus will shift to marketing and student recruitment, faculty development and engagement, programme launch and operationalization, impact measurement, industry partnerships and networking, global collaboration, monitoring, evaluation and continuous improvement to ensure the project's smooth launch and long-term impact.

Developed by the Centre, this digital platform enables enterprises to accurately assess their ESG performance, systematically enhance environmental, social, and governance practices, and achieve high-quality development. The platform features a robust scientific assessment framework, intelligent management tools, and comprehensive data support. It offers tailored services, including performance improvement recommendations, capacity-building programmes, and authoritative certification. With open collaboration at its core, the platform provides value-added services to meet bespoke corporate needs.

Platform Features and Functions

1.Multi-dimensional Evaluation System

Based on the three core dimensions of environment, social, and governance, the system focuses on key areas such as green operations, employee rights, supply chain management, and corporate governance, constructing a scientific and comprehensive ESG evaluation framework.

2.Standardised Evaluation Process

Following six rigorous steps to ensure a standardised, transparent, and traceable evaluation process:

Establishment of an evaluation team → Information and data collection and verification → Data processing and scoring → Report drafting → Report dissemination → Data archiving

3.Policy and Information Support

Provides real-time updates on ESG-related policies at national and local levels, along with cutting-edge industry trends and in-depth interpretations, helping enterprises grasp policy directions and market opportunities.

4.Case Studies and Experience Sharing

The platform showcases outstanding corporate cases, disclosing basic information and sustainable practices, offering reference and learning models for enterprises.

5.One-Stop Service Modules

ESG Evaluation: Systematic assessment and scoring

ESG Certificate Generation: Authoritative certification to highlight corporate responsibility achievements

ESG Courses: Professional knowledge training

Customised Services: One-on-one coaching for targeted improvement of ESG performance

Introduction Video of Digital Platform for ESG Evaluation System of Manufacturing Enterprises

Official Website of the Digitalized ESG Evaluation Platform for Manufacturing Enterprises

As global carbon neutrality efforts accelerate, the green transition of supply chains has become key to high-quality corporate development. Product carbon footprint assessment and optimisation are increasingly important, with relevant expertise emerging as a core workplace competency. In May 2025, the CRBI team partnered with smart to launch the "Supply Chain Carbon Footprint Project". 

This initiative offers students research assistant positions under expert mentorship. Participants gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge academic theories and real-world industrial applications, enabling them to acquire solid carbon management skills while accumulating industry-aligned practical experience. The programme effectively cultivates carbon management professionals equipped with both theoretical knowledge and practical capabilities. In May 2025, CRBI launched a recruitment drive for research assistants for this project, targeting students across the university. It attracted over 70 enthusiastic students interested in the field of carbon management to sign up. Due to quota restrictions set by the enterprise, only 6 students were ultimately admitted, resulting in an extremely low selection rate of 8%. This summer research project was proposed and strategically designed by Professor Jing DAI, Director of RCE Ningbo & CRBI, with co-planning and execution by Dr Fengfeng XIE, Assistant Professor in Management Science and Analytics at the Nottingham University Business School China.

First Academic Training

On 17 June 2025, Dr Fengfeng Xie delivered an offline lecture titled "Carbon Footprint Accounting in Supply Chains and Collaborative Decarbonisation Mechanisms". The session clarified core carbon footprint concepts and the significance of supply chain emissions, analysed real-world challenges in cross-chain decarbonisation (e.g., goal conflicts, information barriers), and explored academic solutions such as game-theoretic models. Participants established a foundational research framework and theoretical analysis skills.

Second Industrial Training

On July 15, 2025, our centre invited Mr Xin JIANG—expert at Expert Committee of Ningbo Intelligent Manufacturing Association to conduct a hands-on workshop for the summer project cohort. The training covered the context and urgency of dual-carbon goals, systematically interpreted core concepts and accounting frameworks, and emphasised practical quantification methods including emission-factor and mass-balance approaches. Through a real-life case study, students are able to practice full-process carbon accounting, strengthening operational skills for fieldwork and final reporting.

First Field Trip

On 21 July 2025, Dr Fengfeng XIE and Mr Xin JIANG led students to conduct a field trip at Jiaxing Pinghu Zhongli Automotive Co., Ltd., a supplier of smart Automobile Co., Ltd. The team first visited the company's exhibition hall to gain an intuitive understanding of its core products. They then went deep into the production workshop to inspect the production lines and learn about the entire process flow from raw materials to finished parts. Subsequently, each project team held focused discussions on preparations for subsequent presentation and received on-site guidance from project leaders and industry experts.

The project kick-off meeting in the afternoon gathered representatives from both the university and the enterprise. From Zhongli Company, Mr Rong SUN, Manager of the Planning Department; Mr Yongming HUANG, EHS Manager; and Mr Hao LU, Quality Engineer, attended on-site; while Mr Hui CAO, Manager of the Quality Assurance Department; Mr Junxiao WANG, Manager of the Engineering Department; Ms Diefei GUO, Senior ESG Specialist; and Mr Kanghua SUN, Industrial Engineer, joined online.

At the meeting, both parties introduced the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, CRBI, and Zhongli Automotive Co., Ltd. Student representatives also presented about their research progress. At the end of the trip, the team and the enterprise jointly carried out the verification of carbon footprint data and conducted in-depth exchanges and discussions on the identified issues.

Next, the students will conduct detailed calculation and analysis of product carbon footprint based on the information collected from this field research and the enterprise's actual data and finally compile a professional carbon footprint verification report to formally deliver and present the results to the enterprise.

Second Field Trip

On 26 August 2025, the project team conducted the Second Enterprise Field Study and Carbon Footprint Verification Meeting at Pinghu Zhongli Automotive Co., Ltd. in Jiaxing. During the meeting, a student representative from the University of Nottingham Ningbo China presented the project background, accounting framework, emission source identification, data quality management and verification, while emphasizing the professionalism and confidentiality of carbon footprint information review. Representatives from the company, external experts, and the CRBI member engaged in in-depth discussions on the data results and provided suggestions on on-site data collection, verification, and document review. The meeting offered students a more concrete understanding of the practical application of carbon footprint accounting and sustainable management in enterprises, while also delivering constructive recommendations for the company to further improve its carbon emission management system.

Cooperative Partner:

smart Automobile Co., Ltd.

Pinghu Zhongli Automotive Co., Ltd.

Relevant Activities:

First Academic Training: Exploring Theoretical Frontiers-Specialised on Supply Chain Carbon Footprint Optimisation Mechanisms

Second Industrial Training on Product Carbon Footprint Verification

First Field Trip

Second Field Trip

Report:

The ESG Finance Project was proposed and planned by Professor Jing Dai, the Centre Director, and was co-planned and developed by the Centre member-Dr Youzong Xu, Assistant Professor in Economics at Nottingham University Business School China. In April–May 2024, the Centre opened recruitment for student research assistants for its summer ESG finance research project to all students across the university. Many students with an interest in sustainable finance and investment actively applied for the programme. Following a rigorous selection process by the project lead, candidates truly suited to the research project were chosen, representing a selection rate of 18%. The programme also provided both academic and industry training, building a scholarly ladder from theory to practice for the participants. After more than half a year of dedicated research, the project—thanks to the joint efforts of the Centre, research supervisors, and student assistants—has now culminated in the delivery of its final report.

First Training on ESG Research

On 5 June 2024, Dr Ying Jiang, Associate Professor in Finance at Nottingham University Business School China, conducted the first offline training session for participants. The training focused on key areas such as ESG evaluation metrics, rating agency comparisons, literature review, and database utilisation, aiming to establish a robust foundation of ESG knowledge. Dr Jiang fostered students' foundational understanding of assessing corporate governance and long-term financial performance by interpreting and analysing factors across environmental, social, and governance dimensions. By explaining cutting-edge ESG evaluation methods and standards, students gained clarity on data collection, indicator calculation, and report writing. Additionally, Dr Jiang analysed the application of SASB (Sustainability Accounting Standards Board) standards in specific sectors, equipping students with industry-specific ESG disclosure norms and laying a solid groundwork for future research.

Second Training on Financed Emission

On 11 July 2024, in the second training session of this Summer Student Research Project on ESG Finance, CRBI invited Dr Liang Dong, Assistant Professor in the Department of Public and International Affairs at the School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, to deliver an online lecture titled "Carbon Emissions in the Financial Sector: Concepts, Accounting Methods, and Policy Implications". This training estimated the financed emissions of major banks in Chinese mainland, highlighting the carbon emission profiles of various industries and banks, and comparing them with global counterparts. It underscored the importance of data precision and methodological rigor, offering guidance for future research and initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions in the financial sector.

Project Output: 

Financial Responsibility in the Climate Crisis: Financed Emissions in China's Banking Sector and Reforms for Green Policies

January - April 2024: Basic Survey

The UNNC CRBI, Expert Committee of Ningbo Intelligent Manufacturing Association, Ningbo Orient Wires & Cables Co. Ltd., and ZDEAEE established a standards-drafting group. They clarified the needs of the standard-setting project, determined the work plan for standard compilation, investigated and collected basic information, and analyzed the necessity and feasibility of standard formulation.

May - September 2024: Company Visit

To gain a deeper understanding of the current state, opportunities, and challenges faced by domestic manufacturing enterprises in sustainable transformation and ESG development, the Centre Director-Professor Jing Dai, the Centre Deputy Director-Dr Steven Zhou, and the Centre member-Dr Jin'an Shao, conducted on-site visits and inspections to several companies, including Ningbo Orient Wires & Cables Co., Ltd., Kashion Industry Co., Ltd., Ningbo Jintian Copper (Group) Co.,Ltd., Geely Automobile Group Co., Ltd., Ningbo Intelligent Manufacturing Association, Sunny Optical Technology (Group) Co., Ltd., and so on. Their field trips ensure that the content of the group standard is truly relevant to the current domestic industry situation and can truly benefit all manufacturing companies.

28 May 2024: Project Establishment and Evaluation

The project evaluation meeting for "Evaluation specification for environmental, social and governance (ESG) of manufacturing enterprises" was successfully held at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China. The meeting had an in-depth discussion on the necessity, normativity, innovation, and operability of the standard. The expert group for assessment unanimously agreed to initiate the standard, defining its strategic objectives, main scope, standardization subjects, and the basic framework. This marked a solid step in the formulation of the group standard, providing overall guidance for the subsequent detailed standard drafting work.

June 2024: Drafting Development

Based on the expert opinions on project assessment, the standard drafting group studied existing international and domestic standards related to ESG, systematically organized the collected materials, conducted research and combined corporate practical experience, and carried out standards preparation in accordance with GB/T 1.1—2020 to form a working discussion draft.

Early July 2024: Company Trial Evaluation

The standard drafting group organized four companies to conduct a trial evaluation, focusing on discussing the scientific nature, completeness, operability, and comparability of the evaluation index system, evaluation methods, evaluation levels, and finally reached a consensus.

26 July 2024: Innovation Seminar

The Centre successfully hosted the "Seminar on ESG Trends and Practice Innovation in Manufacturing Industry". This event invited multiple enterprises to solicit opinions on the revision of the group standard, striving to absorb more effective local suggestions, and tailor a scientific, reasonable, and easy-to-operate ESG evaluation framework for Chinese manufacturing enterprises that aligns with international standards while reflecting Chinese characteristics.

July - Early September 2024: Feedback Integration

Through the association's official website, public opinions were solicited. The drafting group organized and analyzed the collected feedback, revised the standard draft for comments, and formed a review draft.

14 September 2024: Standard Review

The group standard review meeting for "Evaluation specification for environmental, social and governance (ESG) of manufacturing enterprises" was held at UNNC. During the meeting, Professor Kok Wei Khong, the Dean of Nottingham University Business School China and initiator of the Centre, stated that Sustainable Development has always been an important strategy that the University of Nottingham responds to. Advancing the formulation and implementation of this group standard aligns with the vision and mission of Nottingham University Business School China in the field of sustainable development. The Centre also hopes to join forces with the group to strengthen regional ESG practices. The expert reviewers group listened to reports about this group standard revision and conducted inquiries, forming constructive opinions. Finally, this standards revisions and reviews were unanimously approved. This meeting essentially determined the standard final information draft for approval, marking a critical step in the standard preparation.

13 November 2024：Officially Released

On 13 November 2024, the group standard "Evaluation specification for environmental, social and governance (ESG) of manufacturing enterprises" was successfully released and implemented. Centre for Responsible Business and Innovation (CRBI) of the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC), Expert Committee of Ningbo Intelligent Manufacturing Association, Ningbo Orient Wires & Cables Co. Ltd., and Ningbo Zhedong Environment and Energy Exchange (ZDEAEE) jointly formed a standards-drafting team. This group standard is under the jurisdiction of Ningbo Energy Conservation Association and Ningbo Intelligent Manufacturing Association, which are also responsible for its implementation.

ESG, which stands for Environmental, Social and Governance, is an investment philosophy and corporate evaluation standard that focuses on corporate environmental, social and governance performance rather than financial performance. The ESG concept encourages companies to actively commit to environmental protection and fulfill social responsibilities while pursuing economic benefits, and to operate the company in a diversified, fair and inclusive management manner, so as to achieve comprehensive sustainable development. ESG evaluation effectively alleviates the information asymmetry problem between investors and invested companies, helps investors identify the ESG risks and ESG values of potential investment targets, and greatly reduces the cost of investment decision-making.

The group standard "Evaluation specification for environmental, social and governance (ESG) of manufacturing enterprises" is based on national laws, regulations and other national standards, as well as refers to international standards and evaluation systems. It constructs an ESG evaluation guide from the three dimensions of environment, society and governance that is both in line with international standards and suitable for the actual practices of my country's manufacturing enterprises. 

Ningbo Intelligent Manufacturing Association

The Ningbo Intelligent Manufacturing Expert Committee

Ningbo Zhedong Environment and Energy Exchange Co., Ltd

Ningbo Orient Wires & Cables Co., Ltd.

Ningbo Energy Conservation Association (NINGBO SHI JIE NENG XIE HUI)

In today's fast-moving digital world, electronic devices are updated at an incredible rate. This leads to a growing issue of Electronic Waste，commonly known as E-waste. Since December 2023, as the project leader, the Centre member-Dr Xuan Feng, Associate Professor in Human Resource Management and Organisational Behavior from Nottingham University Business School China, along with two Centre members, Dr Eric Evans Osei Opoku, Assistant Professor in Economics and Dr Jin'an Shao, Assistant Professor in Supply Chain Management from the Business School, as well as in collaboration with UNNC Environmental Sustainability Committee, the NottinGreen student club, the reUNNC staff club and other organisations on campus, have conducted comprehensive surveys among student groups and organised a series of publicity and educational activities centered on the theme of E-waste.

E-waste Survey Booth

December 2023

A comprehensive survey on E-waste disposal and recycling was conducted at Nottingham Bridge. The study explored students' behaviours and engagement with E-waste disposal and recycling, while also proposing strategies to enhance E-waste management on campus. This initiative provided students with an opportunity to share creative ideas for sustainable E-waste practices and deepened their understanding of E-waste management.

Lecture on E-waste Management and Circular Economy

March 2024

Dr Xuan Feng delivered a public lecture introducing the concept of urban mining and the circular economy, while also highlighting the intrinsic connection between urban mining and E-waste management. This enlightening session offered students a fresh perspective on the potential uses of unused and discarded electronic products, as well as contemporary strategies for transforming E-waste into valuable metallic resources.

"Green Nottingham" Sustainability Carnival

14 April 2024

During the "Green Nottingham" Sustainability Carnival, held on UNNC's 20th Anniversary Open Day, the project team organised an educational campaign to raise awareness about E-waste disposal and recycling processes among students, faculty, and external guests. Participants were encouraged to contribute ideas and suggestions for the optimal placement of E-waste recycling stations on campus. This initiative not only deepened their understanding of sustainable practices but also inspired actionable steps towards improving E-waste management. The event successfully fostered a culture of environmental responsibility and collective action within the university community.

E-waste Survey Booth

Lecture on E-waste Management and Circular Economy

"Green Nottingham" - Sustainability Carnival

Collaborative Partners:

UNNC Environmental Sustainability Committee

NottinGreen Student Club

reUNNC Staff Club

Project Output: 

Report on Students' behaviour toward E-waste Disposal and Recycling at University of Nottingham Ningbo China