Nottingham University Business School China's 'extraordinary' student

18 September 2013

For most ordinary people - the challenging demands of balancing study, work, social life and family commitments, leave little time for anything other than trying to get a decent degree and hopefully enjoying yourself along the way - but then, Nottingham University Business School China alum Ma Li is no ordinary person!

Ma, not only graduated with a first class BA Honours degree in Finance, Accounting and Management this summer, but also received the prestigious Vice-Chancellor's Achievement Award to mark exceptional achievement at any of the University's campuses in China, Malaysia or the UK.

No stranger to accolades from the University, Ma has previously won the ‘Outstanding Student’ award for three years consecutively from 2010 – 2012, the ‘Outstanding Student Leader’ award in 2010 and 2012, and the ‘Outstanding Student of the Year in Social Performance’ award also in 2010 and 2012. Furthermore, he was twice recipient of the President’s Scholarship and also received a Provost’s Scholarship and National Scholarship.

Ma said: ‘Although I have received awards before, the Vice-Chancellor's Achievement Award meant a lot to me. Only 30 out of the 50,000 students or staff from the University's campuses in China, Malaysia or the UK were given this award and it was presented at my graduation ceremony by Professor Yang Fujia, the former Chancellor of the University, making it very special.

‘Professor Fujia is someone I admire and have got to know quite well through my work as a student representative. I met with him at different university-wide events and activities in which I was involved and he wrote reference letters for my application to The University of Oxford where I am currently studying for an MSc in Financial Economics. After the graduation ceremony, he granted me his new book “From Fudan University to Nottingham University” as a graduation gift.

‘A great day was completed by an invitation to dinner with the University’s senior management team and one our most famous alumni, Chinese table tennis star, Dr. Deng Yaping.’

However, outstanding academic achievement is just one element of Ma Li’s extraordinary university career. He is the Founder of the Nottingham Debating Union China (NUDC), a popular student organisation with over 200 member designed to promote British Parliamentary style debating and create a platform where bright minds can gather to appreciate the value and enjoyment of intellectual discourse at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC). He has represented UNNC in a variety of international debating tournaments such as the Malaysia Open 2013 and the China Open 2012 and has won the Nottingham University Debating Championship. In addition, he was also Convenor of the first China Debate Camp 2013, an international debating tournament with 150 participants from all over the world.

Similarly, Ma has been able to harness his considerable communication skills and significantly enhance the reputation of the University of Nottingham through several appearances on the TV program ‘Voice’ which is broadcasted nationwide by China’s most influential channel CCTV-1 (China Central Television). The program pairs distinguished Chinese celebrities in compelling conversations with outstanding youth leaders. Ma has engaged in discussions with celebrities such as 18-time world table-tennis champion and Nottingham Alumni, Deng Yaping; Under Secretary General for the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Sha Zukang; and Chinese astronaut and national hero, Yang Liwei. Partly as a result of the program, Ma has been voted as a candidate for the ‘Top 10 National Youth Leaders of The Year’ award and currently ranks second among all 20 candidates

‘Extraordinary’ is a superlative often overused to exaggerate a person’s actions and achievements, but doesn’t do justice in describing Ma Li’s remarkable commitment, dedication and talent.

For more information about Nottingham University Business School China, please contact Carol Chen carol.chen@nottingham.edu.cn

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