UNNC invited to 2023 CIFTIS

The University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) was invited to participate in the 2023 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), leading the new trend in international education and contributing to the global higher education.

From 2-6 September, the 2023 CIFTIS, jointly organised by the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China and the Beijing Municipal Government, was held in Beijing. Professor Sam Shen, Secretary of the Party Committee and Vice Provost of UNNC, and Professor Philip Seltsikas, Vice Provost for Education and Student Experience of UNNC, were invited to attend the CIFTIS forum and deliver keynote speeches, sharing UNNC's advanced experience and strengths in the field of international education and showcasing its outstanding achievements in internationalised education.

Professor Sam Shen emphasised that internationalised talents are the future of the world and a crucial force for our country to achieve its dual circulation strategy. A remarkable feature of cultivating internationalised talents lies in the need for exposure to a globalised environment and interaction with diverse cultures. Internationalised talents should possess at least four core qualities: first, they should have a sense of responsibility towards their homeland and be brave in shouldering the historical and national responsibilities, amalgamating theory and practice; second, they must have an inclusive attitude towards different cultures and value backgrounds; third, they should possess cross-cultural and cross-border communication and collaboration skills; and fourth, they must possess internationally advanced knowledge, skills, and attitudes, which are the core elements of being an internationalised talent. The internationalisation of universities is to connect the core functions of teaching, research, and community service with a transnational and cross-cultural dimension.

In his speech, Professor Philip Seltsikas expounded on the implementation of international higher education at UNNC from three aspects: the economic impact of the international education market, quality management in higher education, and the challenges in cultivating international talents. Professor Philip Seltsikas believes that educational supervision is an important foundation for the operation of the quality assurance system, therefore strengthening educational quality management is necessary to ensure integrity and fairness in education. At the same time, collaboration is a key factor for success in the global trend of education. He called for collective efforts from educators, administrators, policy makers, and industry partners to promote the enhancement of China's educational capacity and influence. He used UNNC as an example to delve into the operation of the education quality assurance system.

Invited by the UK Department for International Trade, UNNC, as a model of Sino-British education, made an appearance as the main guest country in the Education Services Theme Exhibition at the Service Trade Fair, showcasing the university's educational achievements. This was aimed at enhancing UNNC's international connections and influence. During the exhibition, Dominic Johnson, the Minister of State at the UK Department for International Trade and Caroline Elizabeth Wilson, the British Ambassador to China, met with David Foster, the Director of Business Development at UNNC, highlighting the mutual attention and efforts in promoting educational cooperation between the two sides.

As a model of Sino-foreign cooperative universities, UNNC has achieved remarkable success both domestically and internationally. The university has established partnerships with 150 overseas institutions in 44 countries and regions, providing students with vast opportunities for international exchanges. UNNC is committed to fostering outstanding talents with an international perspective and cross-cultural communication skills through its internationalised educational philosophy and excellence in practice. The university continuously strives to advance Sino-foreign cooperative education to new heights and contribute actively to the prosperity and development of the global education sector. Its efforts align with the goal of building a "community with a shared future for mankind" and making positive contributions to the flourishing and advancement of the world education endeavor.