Student Support Advisors from DCL provide practical guidance and personalised support on a wide range of student issues, working closely with other university services. We encourage a healthy approach to academic study and campus life.
Free Talk Service
Free Talk service is a vital bridge between students and Student Support Advisors (SSAs). Delivered through both formal meetings and casual chats, it offers a space to understand students' on-campus experiences. Through these dialogues, SSAs listens to students' concerns, identifies challenges, connect them with appropriate support resources, and fosters their personal growth and development.
Class assembly and dorm visit
The Student Support Teams at DCL organise themed class assembly meetings each semester to engage students and address their evolving needs. Student Support Advisors (SSAs), along with the Faculty Office and the Careers and Employability Service, provide tailored guidance for each year group. Additionally, SSAs conduct regular dorm visits, both on campus and off campus, to foster connection within the student community. Through face-to-face communication, SSAs show genuine care and practical advice, supporting students in both academic development and daily life. This approach helps bridge differences among diverse student groups and enhances their overall university experience.
Peer Mentor program
Peer Mentors act as trusted guides for new students, offering warm and accessible support from the perspective of senior peers. During Induction Week, they answer questions, share valuable insights, and help newcomers navigate campus activities and lectures. Throughout the semester, these mentors continue their support through Peer Mentor Meetups, Self-Study Room sessions, and Degree Selection Sharing Sessions, helping new students adapt confidently and swiftly to university life.
PGT and PGR student support
DCL provides comprehensive non-academic support for PGT and PGR students, offering guidance that encompasses pastoral care, mental health education, career development, residential life activities, Party/Youth League engagement, and crisis responses when needed. Through this support system, DCL helps postgraduate students maintain balance, wellbeing and sustain engagement in both their research and campus life.
International student support
The International Student Support Advisors at DCL work closely with university departments to provide professional guidance and practical assistance in areas such as campus life, safety, Chinese language learning, and health and wellbeing. Our goal is to support students in building healthy approaches to both study and personal development, helping them settle smoothly into the academic environment and campus culture at UNNC. Through one-on-one conversations, dorm visits, and activities such as Living in China, Global Village, and Foreign Anchor, we provide warm and human-centred support and nurtures a vibrant and inclusive international community.
Three culture projects
Throughout its development, the University of Nottingham Ningbo China has remained committed to the mission of Sino-foreign cooperative universities to preserve and promote Chinese culture, amplify China’s voice, and tell Chinese stories. By integrating classroom with real-world experiences, the university enables both domestic and international students and staff to engage deeply with the richness of Chinese culture. Through such practice-based engagement, participants develop a global perspective for interpreting the essence of Chinese culture, thereby facilitating its international dissemination. At the same time, the university has pioneered innovative approaches to embedding the education, preservation and development of local cultural traditions within its academic and campus life. These efforts enhance students’ understanding and appreciation of Chinese Culture while cultivating globally-minded individuals with a strong sense of cultural identity and a spirit of innovation.
Centre for Yangming Culture Research and Practice
Since the establishment of the Centre for Yangming Cultural Research and Practice in May 2019, the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, in collaboration with the Former Residence of Wang Yangming, has launched a series of annual projects focusing on Yangming cultural elements. In June 2023, the Faculty of Science and Engineering, UNNC established a second Centre for Yangming Culture Research and Practice at the Former Residence of Wang Yangming in Xiuwen, Guizhou. This initiative was designed to bridge geographical distance and promote the dissemination of Yangming Culture across regions.
In 2024, a Mid-Autumn Festival programme themed "Crossing the Ancient and Modern Ningbo City" was held, alongside the launch of a commemorative 20th anniversary mooncake. Incorporating the Yangming philosophical concept of the unity of knowledge and practice, and symbolic elements from the university’s three major centres, the initiative offered a wonderful cultural feast to UNNC staff and students.
Promoting the Internationalisation of Yangming Culture
In October 2018, 11 students from FoSE Study Group visited Wang Yangming’s former residence for field research and were deeply inspired by Yangming’s philosophy. During the visit, they identified the absence of a systematic English-language interpretation at the site. Working collaboratively, the FoSE study group created a draft English translation based on original manuscripts provided by the former residence, enriched by a year of in-depth study of Wang Yangming’s philosophy. After nearly three months of dedicated development, the English audio guide was officially presented to the former residence of Wang Yangming during the unveiling ceremony of Centre for Yangming Culture Research and Practice in Yuyao.
In 2024, the Mid-Autumn Festival themed "Crossing the Ancient and Modern Yongcheng City" was held, alongside the launch of a commemorative 20th anniversary mooncake. Incorporating the Yangming philosophical concept of the unity of knowledge and practice, and symbolic elements from the university’s three major bases, the initiative offered a wonderful cultural feast to UNNC staff and students.
The Yangming philosophy deeply integrated into the module teaching of Product Design and Manufacturing
The Yangming philosophy has been deeply integrated into the curriculum (module: Industrial Design Professional Practice) of the Faculty of Science and Engineering. Since 2020, students from the Product Design and Manufacturing program in the Faculty have created a series of design works inspired by the philosophy of Wang Yangming, generating sustained academic and cultural influence. In 2022, the course was recognized as a first-class course in Zhejiang Province.
Embedding Yangming Culture in the Student Extra-curriculum Programme for In-depth Research
From August 2020 to June 2024, the Party Committee of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, in collaboration with the FoSE Study group, conducted a series of week-long cultural study activity centred on ‘Yangming culture’. Drawing on the Centre of Yangming Cultural Research and Practice, including the Former Residence of Wang Yangming in Yuyao and the Former Residence of Wang Yangming in Xiuwen, Guizhou, the activity aimed to immerse students in the rich heritage of Yangming philosophy. From Gezhu 1.0 to Gezhu 5.0, students from diverse disciplines and backgrounds came together to explore the intersection of architectural design, Western modern craftsmanship, and Eastern artisanal spirit and culture. This interdisciplinary approach fostered innovative collaboration and sustained academic exchange.
Successfully hosted the Yangmingism Cultural and Creative Design Competition
Since 2023, the Yangmingism Cultural and Creative Design Competition hosted by the University of Nottingham Ningbo has attracted wide attention. is the competition serves as a dedicated sub-track of the Milan Design Week China Collegiate Design Competition & Exhibition 2024, guided by the China Association of Higher Education. It is also listed among the 56 national-level college student competitions officially approved by the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China.
Centre for Hemudu Cultural Research and Practice
On 9 June 2020, the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) and the Hemudu Site Museum signed a cooperative agreement to co-establish the Centre for Hemudu Cultural Research and Practice, aiming to strengthen collaboration in centre development, talent cultivation and teaching practice.
Hemudu Cultural Relics Exhibition on Campus
In November 2021, an exhibition, themed “childlike artisan” displaying artistic depictions of relics unearthed from the Hemudu culture, was held at the UNNC Library. Featuring distinctive charcoal-tempered pottery, Neolithic horn ornaments, and exquisitely carved ivory artifacts, the exhibition offered staff and students a close view of the treasures preserved from ancient history. This exhibition, brought about by UNNC and the Hemudu Site Museum, is the first stop of the Museum’s campaign to bring Hemudu culture into campuses. At the same time, the series of complementary activities including themed research lectures, ancient architecture construction workshops and historical and cultural film screenings, also allowed students to experience the brilliance and broadness of Chinese civilisation.
Research and Practical Activities
Since April 2021, with coordination from Nottingham University Business School China, UNNC has launched a series of research and practice-based activities at the Hemudu Site Museum. These activities including museum visits, thematic studies and hands-on engagement of Hemudu Culture allowed both Chinese and international staff and students to appreciate the unique beauty of prehistoric culture, while deepening their understanding of and respect for ancient Chinese civilisation. It was also an integral part of the university’s efforts to effectively communicate Chinese history and cultural heritage.
The “Past to Present” Project
The year of 2023 marked the fourth year of collaboration between UNNC and the Museum, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the discovery of Hemudu culture and the 30th anniversary of the Museum’s opening. To commemorate these noteworthy milestones, Nottingham University Business School China delivered a new project called “Past to Present”. The project serves as a key initiative for the continued inheritance and development of Chinese culture, while further strengthening collaboration between UNNC and the museum. “Past to Present,” shortened from “Past Echoes to Present Light,” refers to the profound influence of China’s rich cultural heritage on contemporary society and future generations, and the evolving journey of cultural transmission shaped by both challenges and vitality.
Ningbobang Museum
The Ningbobang Museum focuses on the history and legacy of Ningbo merchants, showcasing their business acumen, entrepreneurial spirit and deep attachment to their hometown. It aims to preserve and promote the spirit of Ningbo merchants, emphasising the humanistic theme of searching for roots and worshipping ancestors. The University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) aims to build a stronger alliance with the Ningbobang Museum. By leveraging the talent and leadership of outstanding students and Party members, the university strives to tell the story of Ningbo more effectively, preserve its urban and cultural context, and use this partnership as a platform for both academic inquiry and practice-based learning for students in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Unveiling Ceremony of the Education Centre
On 31 December 2019, the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) and the Ningbobang Museum jointly hosted the unveiling ceremony of the Education Centre.
The establishment of this humanities education centre allows students to engage more closely with the culture of Ningbo Merchants, supporting the dissemination of China’s outstanding culture and core values on an international stage. In doing so, it highlights the charm of Ningbo Merchants, promoting mutual growth and setting a new benchmark for humanities education.
The Sharing Session of Ningbobang Museum at University
On 9 December 2020, the first ‘Sharing Session of Ningbobang Museum’ was successfully held at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC). The speakers presented an interactive sociocultural lecture for UNNC students, focusing on four aspects: an introduction to Ningbobang, a narration of Ningbobang history, a Q&A session, and an appreciation of Ningbo folk songs. The lecture was well received and widely appreciated by students.
Mobile Exhibition on Campus
In 2021, Ningbobang Museum hosted a ‘Special Exhibition Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the CPC’. The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (FHSS) at UNNC was invited to host the walking exhibition on campus, allowing a broad cohort of staff and students to engage with the indomitable spirit of local Ningbo ancestors and martyrs.
Ningbobang, bang (help) Ningbo
Since the establishment of the education centre at Ningbobang Museum, the university and its faculty have adhered to the guiding principle that ‘a museum is a grand university’, integrating diversity and inclusiveness into the culture of UNNC. Batches of students have engaged with the museum and carried the spirit of Ningbobang into their studies and lives. During the themed education program in 2023, staff and students from FHSS visited the Ningbobang Museum, with particular focus on the exhibition of ‘The Hall of Ningbo’s Honorary Citizens’.
Cultural and Creative Product Design Competition: ‘DISCOVERY IN NINGBO’
The year 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC). To commemorate this milestone, UNNC launched the Cultural and Creative Product Design Competition themed ‘Discovery in Ningbo’. The competition aims to encourage the design of cultural and creative products that reflect the unique cultural identity and historical heritage of the ‘Ningbobang’, while adding new vitality and depth to the ongoing cooperation between the museum and the university.
Contact us
Year 1 Student Support Team (Trent321): CELEStudentAffairs@nottingham.edu.cn
FHSS Student Support Team (IEB 324-1): FHSSStudentAffairs@nottingham.edu.cn
NUBS China Student Support Team (IEB 449): NUBSStudentAffairs@nottingham.edu.cn
FoSE Student Support Team (PMB 422): FoSEstudentaffairs@nottingham.edu.cn
International Student Support Team: intl.support@nottingham.edu.cn