Insider Media Limited

The University of Nottingham has been invited to establish a second campus in China, it has said. A possible location has already been sourced for a development in Shaghai, about 140 miles from the university’s Ningbo campus.

Shanghai’s government has invited the university to establish a Sino-foreign campus in the city, the university said. Funding has been offered to the university to construct a base in the southern part of Shanghai.

Discussions between the university and other parties, including the government, are at an “advanced stage”, but the deal has not been finalised.

The Shanghai university campus is still subject to approval by the university’s senate and council and the relevant authorities in China and the UK.

Professor Nick Miles, provost and chief executive officer of the University of Nottingham Ningbo, China, said: “We are honoured that the government of Shanghai has identified our university as a potential partner for a new campus development in Shanghai.

“The success of The University of Nottingham Ningbo, China has made such an invitation possible.”

Professor Miles emphasised any development in Shanghai would complement the University of Nottingham Ningbo, China. He said: “This proposed university in Shanghai will build on the University of Nottingham Ningbo, China’s strengths. It will not compete with it in any way.

“In particular, a Shanghai university campus would allow us to develop critical mass in new subject areas with a strong focus on science and technology and would provide an opportunity for further expansion.”

The University of Nottingham has about 39,000 students across its three international campuses in the UK, Malaysia and China.

The University of Nottingham Ningbo, China opened its doors six years ago and has grown its student population to almost 5,000.

Professor Miles said that the University of Nottingham Ningbo, China would continue with its plans to further develop its offering in Ningbo and maintain the high standards of teaching and research.

“Every university goes through a process of continuous improvement. We have a strategic, very long-term plan for the University of Nottingham Ningbo. We value enormously what we have developed here and are committed to ensuring our teaching and research outputs keep getting better,” he said.

The University of Nottingham’s pro-vice-chancellor for internationalisation and science, and professor of marketing, Professor Christine Ennew, said the university regularly receives requests to set up other campuses outside the UK.

“It is fair to say that our university has been very successful with the development of our campuses outside the UK. We get regular requests to set up new campuses. Usually we say ‘no’,” said Professor Ennew.

“The Shanghai government’s offer seemed to be a very attractive offer for several reasons. Ningbo is close to Shanghai, China is very important in terms of its requirements for quality education and the University of Nottingham has a relationship with China,” she said.

Professor Ennew said the University of Nottingham “remains firmly committed” to the University of Nottingham Ningbo, China, to the city of Ningbo and its partners, Zhejiang’s Wanli Education Group.