Zhejiang Provincial Branding Academy held an Open Class on “Internationalization of Chinese and Zhejiang Brands” on 17th May 2018 in the University of Nottingham Ningbo China. Leaders from Zhejiang Provincial Administration of Quality and Technology Supervision, Zhejiang Machinery and Electrical Group, Zhejiang Wanli Education Group and Zhejiang Provincial Brand Association attended the Open Class, which was strongly supported by these leaders. In this Open Class, Professor Sam Shen, Vice Provost for External Relations, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, delivered a welcome speech, expressing the importance of brand building. Then, Mr. Xing Zeliang , Associate Counsel of Zhejiang Provincial Administration of Quality and Technology Supervision, gave an opening address, expressing the government's high regard for brand construction, especially the construction of "Zhejiang Made" brand.
Professor Martin Liu was invited by People's Daily Talk to share his views on rebranding China through BRI in Beijing on April 19, 2019. He thinks the Belt and Road Initiative is one of the ways for China to connect to the international market in a much deeper way. 'So, how do China brands itself? How do China makes people perceive it as a country that generates high quality products? That is the challenge. Not the challenge of the manufacturing process itself.''This is a national branding issue. It could be a stereotype, and how to change it remains something everybody needs to work on'. He suggests that manufacturers start changing their mindset and focus on quality.' The products that come out of China would be of good quality, but at a reasonable price, and that could be a valuable proposition that we could bring to the world.'
Zhejiang Provincial Branding Academy successfully held an Open Class with the theme of ‘The Current Situation and Opportunities of Intelligent Manufacturing’ in Ningbo Library on May 25, 2019. Professor Hing Kai Chan, Professor of Operations Management in Nottingham University Business School China (NUBS China), not only introduced the current situation and challenges of Intelligent Manufacturing, but also provided answers to questions of concern such as how to face the digital age. The event was reported by NUBS China official account.
On 19 June 2019, Zhejiang Provincial Branding Academy International Open Class with the theme of ‘The Belt and Road Initiative: Opportunities and Challenges for Companies in Zhejiang’ was successfully held at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC). Around 70 participants from Zhejiang Machinery and Electrical Group, Zhejiang Wanli Education Group, UNNC, “ZhejiangMade” enterprises and other representative enterprises in Zhejiang have attended the open class. Professor Martin Lockett, Dean of Nottingham University Business School China (NUBS China), and Dr.Ye Jiansong, a representative from Zhejiang Machinery and Electrical Group, kicked off the Open Class. Centering on the Belt and Road, researchers from eight different countries in UNNC shared their thoughts on Chinese innovation, international development of Chinese enterprises as well as opportunities and challenges they are facing. So far, the hits of the video has reached 10,000. The People's Daily New Media Center has reported on this course.
Funding Conference
Zhejiang Provincial Branding Academy funded a workshop on Dual Circulation and New Economic Development, and the Awarding Ceremony for Ningbo Research Base on Dual Circulation and Economic Development (hereinafter referred to as “the Research Base”) on 11th June 2021. The conference invited Ying Xiong, Party Secretary of UNNC; Xu Fang, former President and Party Secretary of Ningbo Social Science Academy (Federation of Societies and Social Science); and Michele Geraci, the former Deputy Minister of Economic Development of Italy, to give speeches. Zhang Zhanbin, member of the National Committee of CPPCC and Dean of the School of Marxism in the Party School of the Central Committee of C.P.C (National Academy of Governance), gave a keynote speech. He highly praised the significance of the research base. He regarded the base as the potential role model among Zhejiang and even the whole China, taking advantages of the unique resources of UNNC. The great success of the workshop was published and recorded by major media include Modern Gold Express (现代金报), TheHour (钱江晚报小时新闻) and Yongpai APP (甬派). The hits of the reports on Yongpai APP were over 200,000.
On 17 May 2023, the "Cross border trade in the digital era" peers advisory group jointly organised by Nottingham University Business School China (NUBS China) and Amazon Global Selling was successfully held at the Library, the University Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC). Industry representatives from 30 cross-border e-commerce companies in Ningbo gathered on campus to discuss supply chain and branding development trends, explore digital business opportunities, help strategic layout, and lead innovative development.
Professor Martin Liu, Associate Dean for Research and Knowledge Exchange at NUBS China, delivered a keynote speech titled "Customer value created by international brand strategy". He mentioned the importance of branding in cross-border e-commerce and Chinese brands going overseas. He also provided suggestions for optimising enterprises in terms of mindset, products and sales channels.
On 20 May 2023, Martin Liu, Executive Dean for Zhejiang Provincial Branding Academy, gave a public lecture at the Ningbo Library to explain in detail the yesterday, today and tomorrow of marketing. The advantages and disadvantages of digital empowerment will open a new chapter of marketing in the digital era. Professor Liu especially stressed that in the era of digital marketing, we need to pay attention to the legitimacy, fairness and integrity of marketing behavior, and avoid unethical behavior by enterprises in order to make money.