On 12 July, 673 undergraduates, 42 master’s students, and 10 PhD candidates from the Nottingham University Business School China, successfully concluded their academic journey at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC).
The UNNC graduation ceremony was grandly held in the D.H. Lawrence Auditorium. Professor Xincheng Xie, President of the UNNC, personally presided over the ceremony, leading all the teachers and students to witness this important moment together.
At the graduation ceremony, Provost and Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Jon Garibaldi offered three pieces of advice on anchoring oneself amid uncertainty to act with composure and steadfastness: "First, have confidence in the skills you’ve honed at UNNC. Second, uphold the ethos of ‘lifelong learning’ championed by our university. Finally, never underestimate the enduring power of ‘doing good’ as a guiding principle."
Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Zoe Wilson extended her most sincere blessings to the graduates: "Graduation truly is a time of reflection, celebration, and anticipation. It marks the start of a new chapter filled with endless possibilities and opportunities. So, embrace uncertainties with the same courage that brought you to this moment. Take risks, challenge the status quo, and never underestimate the power of your ideas. The world needs innovators, problem solvers, and compassionate leaders, and I am confident that each of you has the potential to be just that."
The ceremony also honoured outstanding contributions: Dr Wei Cai, Assistant Professor in Accounting, received the Lord Dearing Award, while Dr Huimin Song (Professor of Practice in Accounting) and graduate Luxi Cai were awarded the 2025 Vice-Chancellor’s Medal.
President Xie highlighted UNNC's talent development strategy, notably the "Chair Professors" initiative aimed at attracting and retaining top-tier talent. Professors Garibaldi and Kok Wei Khong introduced the scholarly achievements of Chair Professors Alain Chong (Information Systems and Digital Innovation) and Chee Wei Phang (Behavioural Insights and Decision Sciences).
Three distinguished figures were conferred Honorary Professorships: Professor Suprateek Sarker (Rolls-Royce Commonwealth Eminent Professor of Commerce at the University of Virginia), Dr Polly Ng (Founder, Chairman and CEO of BWSea Technology Group; Founder, Chairman and Global CEO of Global Women Connect), and Dr Yongtian Yu (Secretary-General of Zhiwei Research Institute).
During the degree conferral, heads of departments, including Professor Chee Wei Phang (Entrepreneurship, Marketing, and Management Systems) and Dr Xiaolan Zheng (Finance, Accounting, and Economics), announced graduate names, while Professor Kok Wei Khong greeted each graduate.
Graduation speeches were delivered by Luxi Cai (BSc International Business Management) and Ali Nizar Almasyhur (BA International Business Management with Chinese). Both expressed gratitude for UNNC’s international and inclusive environment, which enabled them to realise their potential.
The Business School also hosted a graduation party, where Professor Kok Wei Khong extended heartfelt wishes for the graduates’ futures.
May the Class of 2025 shine brightly across the globe—wherever you go, remember the chimes of UNNC’s Trent Building will always resonate for you.