Professor Hai-Sui Yu, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International) at The University of Nottingham, has been awarded the honorary citizenship of Ningbo in recognition of his outstanding contribution towards the development of Ningbo over the past decade.
The honorary citizenship is awarded every two years by the standing committee of Ningbo's People Congress, and represents the highest honour awarded by Ningbo City. Professor Yu is one of only three awardees this year in the category of outstanding contributions,
An international focus
Professor Yu has been a Board Member of The University of Nottingham, Ningbo China (UNNC) since its inception. As Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International), Professor Yu has overall responsibility for The University of Nottingham's international strategy and activities, and also oversees its international campuses in China and Malaysia.
In this role, Professor Yu led the successful establishment of a number of major research and knowledge exchange platforms at UNNC, including the International Doctoral Innovation Centre (IDIC) and the International Academy for Marine Economy and Technology (IAMET). He has also contributed to the globalisation of Higher Education in China, and encouraged Nottingham’s increasing influence in the areas of research and teaching.
Excellent relationships
Professor Sir David Greenaway, Vice Chancellor of The University of Nottingham, said: “The University is immensely proud of Professor Hai-Sui Yu’s contributions. Ningbo is the home of The University of Nottingham Ningbo China and Hai-Sui has made an enormous contribution to UNNC’s development over the past ten years. The award reflects the excellent relationships between Nottingham and Ningbo; relationships which will undoubtedly continue to grow in the future.”
Speaking at the award ceremony in Ningbo, a city of around eight million people, Weiwei Kong, Director of the Ningbo Foreign Affairs Office, said: “Ningbo honorary citizenship is the highest recognition of a person’s contribution to Ningbo’s development, and in this case represents Professor Hai-Sui Yu’s fruitful work in developing UNNC.
Positive contributions
"The award recognises his positive contribution to the collaboration between Ningbo and The University of Nottingham in the areas of education, science and technology, and industry. We congratulate Professor Yu on becoming an honorary citizen of Ningbo, and hope he will continue to promote communication between Ningbo and Nottingham.”
Professor Yu said: “I feel very delighted, privileged and honoured to have been made an honorary citizen of Ningbo. This award recognises not just my achievements, but those of all the colleagues I have been working with over the past ten years to encourage the development of UNNC. I am especially grateful to Professor Sir David Greenaway and Professor Sir Colin Campbell, for giving me the opportunity to lead and contribute continuously to the development of UNNC."
Alliances with China
Over the last ten years, The University of Nottingham has developed extensive links and research collaborations in the world’s most dynamic economy. Strategic alliances with elite Chinese partners include clean energy, green manufacturing, biomaterials, geomechanics and low-carbon vehicles.
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For further information please contact: Jessica Lewis, Assistant to Professor Hai-Sui Yu on jessica.lewis@nottingham.ac.uk or phone +44(0)115 82 32487, or Nick King, Marketing Projects Manager at The University of Nottingham, on +44(0)115 82 32184, or email nicholas.king@nottingham.ac.uk
Photo shows, left to right: Professor Hai-Sui Yu, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of The University of Nottingham with Mr Wang Yong, Chair of the Standing Committee of Ningbo’s People Congress
Notes to editors: .
The University of Nottingham has 42,000 students and is ‘the nearest Britain has to a truly global university, with campuses in China and Malaysia modelled on a headquarters that is among the most attractive in Britain’ (Times Good University Guide 2014). It is also one of the most popular universities among graduate employers, one of the world’s greenest universities, and winner of the Times Higher Education Award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Development’. It is ranked in the World’s Top 75 universities by the QS World University Rankings.
More than 90 per cent of research at the University of Nottingham is of international quality, according to the most recent Research Assessment Exercise. The University aims to be recognised around the world for its signature contributions, especially in global food security, energy & sustainability, and health. The University won a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for its research into global food security.
Impact: The Nottingham Campaign, its biggest ever fundraising campaign, will deliver the University’s vision to change lives, tackle global issues and shape the future.