The University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) recently hosted the International Symposium on Internationalisation and Global Talent Development in Chinese Higher Education, bringing together experts from academia, industry and government to explore innovative approaches to "glocal" talent cultivation.
With only around 10% of Chinese students able to study abroad, the focus is shifting to providing world-class education and a global perspective within domestic institutions. UNNC exemplifies this strategy as China’s first Sino-foreign university with independent legal status. It offers UK degrees, English-medium teaching, and an international faculty, while deeply integrating Chinese culture.
The outcomes are compelling: over 30% of UNNC graduates go on to top 10 global universities, over 90% to top 100 institutions, and 95% of employed master’s graduates join leading companies or key organisations. Notably, more than 90% of its overseas graduates return to China.
UNNC also fosters values such as strong cultural foundation and global competence through initiatives like embedding Wang Yangming philosophy into its curriculum and exhibiting student work internationally.
Experts at the symposium called for a collaborative “government–industry–academia–research” ecosystem. Initiatives like the Nottingham University Business School China’s three-campus linkage (UK–China–Malaysia) and tailored industry programmes illustrate this integrated approach. Speakers emphasised the need for aligned efforts among universities, industries, and government to support a sustainable model for global talent development in China.
Published on 08 July 2025