On June 14, 2024, IICE Professor WANG Lu and her research team visited the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) to conduct an in-depth investigation into the quality assurance of Sino-foreign cooperative education programs. Established in 2004 with the approval of the Ministry of Education, UNNC is the first Sino-foreign cooperative university in China with an independent campus and legal status. It is also an integral part of the global education system of the University of Nottingham, UK. The university is committed to cultivating innovative, high-level talent with an international perspective, grounded in China, and capable of meeting future challenges. It enrolls undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students both domestically and internationally.
The purpose of this investigation was to understand how the University of Nottingham and its Ningbo campus, as a transnational educational institution, manage and supervise the quality of teaching, faculty, and other aspects of operation. The research aimed to gather information on the concepts, policies, systems, standards, and practices of quality assurance implemented by the UK government and the University of Nottingham for their overseas educational institutions. This information will support the research project commissioned by the Degree Management Office of the Ministry of Education titled "Research on the Connotations and Pathways of Quality Assurance for Overseas Higher Education Institutions".
The investigation was fully supported by UNNC. The university’s leadership and relevant management staff provided the research team with a detailed introduction to the background of the university’s establishment, its basic organizational structure, operational status, internal and external quality assurance system development, educational philosophy, curriculum design, faculty strength, and student development. Both parties engaged in extensive discussions on the quality assurance issues outlined in the interview guide. The research team also conducted an on-site inspection of UNNC’s teaching facilities.
This investigation strengthened the academic exchange between the IICE of Beijing Normal University and UNNC in the field of international education, paving the way for further in-depth cooperation between the two institutions in the future.
