On 15-16 March, 2025 Joint Conference of Business Student Unions of Sino-foreign Cooperative Universities was successfully held at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC). This conference aimed to facilitate exchange and collaboration, promote the in-depth integration and innovation of business education within Sino-foreign cooperative universities, and create broader development opportunities for students. This conference was organised by Nottingham University Business School China (NUBS China) Student Association (BSA).
More than 50 representatives from City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan), Duke Kunshan University, Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, University of Ningbo China, Wenzhou-Kean University and Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University attended the conference.
The opening ceremony officially commenced with a welcome speech by Sam Shen, Secretary of UNNC Party Committee. He warmly welcomed all the attendees and succinctly highlighted the significance of the conference, laying a solid foundation for its successful progression.
Xiaogang Bi, Secretary of NUBS China Party Committee, provided a brief introduction to the NUBS China. Through his presentation, attendees gained a clearer understanding of the faculty’s development journey, educational philosophy and research achievements.
Yan Zhang, Chairman of EXCITON, shared the topic named "Your Dream will Change This World". With his extensive business experience and sharp industry insights, he conducted an in-depth analysis of the evolving trends in corporate talent demands against the backdrop of rapid technological development, offering valuable inspiration and new perspectives for business schools in shaping their talent development strategies.
Hong Deng, professor in Organisational Behaviour of NUBS China, shared the topic named "Doing Research in the Age of AI–Why Human Minds Still Matter Most". She delved into the profound impact of technological advancements on academic research methods, tools and disciplines by examining the rapid rise and widespread application of artificial intelligence. She emphasised that while the computational power, depth of data mining and predictive precision brought by AI are driving the expansion of scientific boundaries at an unprecedented pace, the uniqueness of human thought, creativity and sensitivity to complex ethical issues remain irreplaceable core elements in scientific exploration.
Representatives discussed the following topics, "Connecting Cultures: Integrating Chinese and Global Perspectives in Campus Activities", "Employment Prospects for Students at Business Schools of Sino-foreign Cooperative Universities" and "The Age of AI: Opportunities and Challenges for Business Schools in Sino-foreign Cooperative Universities" in the sharing session.
In the UNNC Museum, attendees explored the university's development journey, remarkable achievements, and the inspiring stories behind them through comprehensive exhibits, valuable artifacts and multimedia presentations. This allowed them to deeply appreciate the university's rich cultural heritage and historical legacy. Following this, the representatives visited the FinTech Lab, where detailed explanations and hands-on demonstrations by staff provided a direct experience of cutting-edge fintech innovations. They were able to witness the latest advancements in the integration of technology and finance. This visit left a lasting impression on the participants, while also sparking deeper reflections and greater expectations regarding university-industry collaboration and research innovation.
Representatives visited Hemudu Site Museum on 16 March. Through individual historical relics and detailed explanations, they gained a deeper understanding of Ningbo's Neolithic Age culture, as well as the agricultural lifestyle, pottery-making craftsmanship, and architectural techniques of the Hemudu ancestors. The museum's multimedia exhibition hall, equipped with advanced digital technology and interactive features, ingeniously blended ancient civilisation with modern science and technology, providing visitors with an immersive experience.
Sam Shen, Secretary of UNNC Party Committee, Yan Zhang, Vice President of the Western Returned Scholars Association of Zhejiang Province and Chairman of EXCITON, Kok Wei Khong, Dean of NUBS China, Xiaogang Bi, Secretary of NUBS China Party Committee and Hao Tan, Associate Dean for Education and Student Experience of NUBS China, attended the opening ceremony.
This conference underscored the importance of collaboration and innovation in higher education, setting a strong foundation for future partnerships and advancing the development of business education across Sino-foreign cooperative universities.