Accreditation is the mark of assurance that the BEng degree programme meets the high standards set by the engineering profession and the UK industry regulator, the Engineering Council.
The accreditation also means that other countries that are signatories to international accords will recognise the UNNC qualification as substantially equivalent to those running in their jurisdiction.
The accredited degree is the first step towards professional registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng); giving UNNC graduates a competitive advantage with many employers. In the rest of China, only one university in the west has gained the same accreditation.
Dr Llewellyn Tang, Head of Department of Architecture and Built Environment, which runs the accredited course at UNNC, said: “BEng (Hons) Architectural Environment Engineering puts a strong emphasis on the role of research-led and practice-led teaching. This is an effective way to support built environment education, valuing critical thinking and supporting the development of practical skills.
Architectural Engineering BEng students undertake research projects to help them learn, in more detail, about the holistic design of buildings, their internal environment, and the systems necessary to achieve a sustainable building, including the design of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, acoustics and lighting.
“Placed in the rapidly-developing context of China, the Department successfully transfers the results of its research activity to its teaching. The aim is to connect students with contemporary local and global challenges and to engage them with clients and communities, while putting into practice the skills and academic knowledge acquired on their courses,” adds Dr Tang.
The news comes only a few months after UNNC Architectural Engineering BEng graduate, Jiayi Qiu was honoured by Hong Kong’s Phoenix TV at their annual You Bring Charm to the World awards.
At a ceremony held at Tsinghua University in Beijing, Qiu was named among 11 Chinese people inspiring the world, alongside other international influencers such as nuclear physicist, Yu Min and meteorologist Wang Bin.
One of the youngest winners, Jiayi Qiu, who graduated in 2014, was recognised by Phoenix TV for being the first student outside the UK or Ireland to receive a President’s Award from CIBSE.
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More information is available from Llewellyn Tang, Head of Department of Architecture and Built Environment, The University of Nottingham Ningbo China via Llewellyn.Tang@nottingham.edu.cn.
Notes to Editors
The course accreditation was conferred after the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) visited UNNC in August. CIBSE operate under licence from the regulator, the Engineering Council UK. The result means the Architectural Environment Engineering degree for intake years 2014 – 2018 meets, in part, the academic requirements for Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.