In the letter Professor Miles introduced: “In the 2020 Academic Ranking of World Universities, UNNC ranked 68 nationally and the second in Zhejiang, which demonstrates our comprehensive strength in student quality, teaching excellence and research capability. The University actively responded to the Covid-19 pandemic and was the first Sino-foreign university to re-open its campus in spring 2020.”
Zheng replied: “I can still remember our face-to-face meeting in Ningbo. In the past years, you have been dedicating yourself to UNNC, and under your leadership the University has made remarkable achievements in building a high-level Sino-foreign university and made positive contributions to Zhejiang education.”
Peng Jiaxue, Standing Committee member of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee and secretary of the Ningbo Municipal Party Committee, also sent New Year greetings to Professor Miles. Qiu congratulated Professor Miles for making “outstanding achievements in teaching & learning, research and other various areas”. Chen also extended warm congratulations on behalf of Zhejiang Provincial Department of Education at knowing the achievement of the University made last year.
At the beginning of the “14th Five-Year Plan” stage, the University is looking ahead to its development as a high-level international university during this period; it is dedicated to utilising its international resources to serve the local social and economic development.
In his reply, Zheng wrote: “2021 is the first year of the ‘14th Five-year Plan’ phase and also the starting year for Zhejiang to build ‘Socialist Modernization Pioneer Province’”. He demonstrates that the government will continue to support UNNC’s development that the University will continue its high-quality international education, introducing world-class teaching & learning and research resources, implementing “China Beacons” and other projects that highly align with Zhejiang’s development.
In recent years, UNNC has linked up with local government and established various high energy innovation platforms, including the Ningbo Nottingham International Academy for Marine Economy and Technology and the New Materials Institute.
Last year, the University signed an Implementation Agreement with local government to co-establish the Nottingham Ningbo China Beacons of Excellence Research and Innovation Institute. Focusing on the three areas that highly align with local development, the Institute introduces pioneering experiences and resources from University of Nottingham UK and serves the development of Ningbo.
“We hope that UNNC continues to take advantage of teaching & learning, research and international exchange to support the high-quality development of Ningbo city,” wrote Qiu in his response.
Since its establishment, more than 18,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students have gained a degree from UNNC. Over 30% of undergraduate graduates were accepted by world Top 10 universities and 43% of Master’s and 36% of doctoral graduates remained in Zhejiang for work and entrepreneurship, making contributions to the local social and economic development.
Chen illustrates that he fully hopes that the University can take advantage of new opportunities, making continuous progress and innovation, to provide talent, intellectual, and scientific support for the development of Zhejiang. “Zhejiang Provincial Department of Education also offers continuous support in the fields including student enrollment quota, discipline development, course establishment, scientific research, etc,” he wrote.
After receiving these inspiring messages, Professor Nick Miles says that the University will continue to improve its quality of teaching and better support local high-quality development.