Zhejiang Wanli University (), formerly the Ningbo Branch of Zhejiang Agricultural University (), is a

private college Private universities and private colleges are higher education institutions not operated, owned, or institutionally funded by governments. However, they often receive tax breaks, public student loans, and government grants. Depending on the count ...

Ningbo Ningbo is a sub-provincial city in northeastern Zhejiang province, People's Republic of China. It comprises six urban districts, two satellite county-level cities, and two rural counties, including several islands in Hangzhou Bay and the Eas ...

Zhejiang ) , translit_lang1_type2 = , translit_lang1_info2 = ( Hangzhounese) ( Ningbonese) (Wenzhounese) , image_skyline = 玉甑峰全貌 - panoramio.jpg , image_caption = View of the Yandang Mountains , image_map = Zhejiang i ...

, China. The college is operated by the private Zhejiang Wanli Education Group Company. According to the 2023

Academic Ranking of World Universities The ''Academic Ranking of World Universities'' (''ARWU''), also known as the Shanghai Ranking, is one of the annual publications of world university rankings. The league table was originally compiled and issued by Shanghai Jiao Tong Universi ...

(ARWU), it ranks 350th among Chinese institutions.

History

Early history

In 1958, the Ningbo Regional Agricultural Vocational School was established. In 1960, it merged with the Ningbo Regional Institute of Agricultural Sciences and the Ningbo Regional Agricultural Tools Research Institute to form Ningbo Agricultural College. The college was renamed Ningbo Regional Agricultural Vocational School in 1961. In 1971, it merged with Ningbo Forestry School to become the Ningbo Regional Agriculture and Forestry School. This institution was upgraded to Ningbo Regional Agricultural College in 1976. The following year, in 1977, the college became the Ningbo Branch of Zhejiang Agricultural University. In 1984, it was restructured as Zhejiang Rural Technical Teachers College.

After privatization

In February 1999, the Zhejiang Provincial People's Government implemented a reform to address the college's financial difficulties. As a result, the institution was restructured into a privately managed, government-owned university and renamed Zhejiang Wanli Vocational Technical College (浙江万里职业技术学院) in November. In 2002, the institution was granted "college" (学院) status, was renamed literally "Zhejiang Wanli College" (浙江万里学院) in the Chinese language, and started to provide bachelor's degree programs. In 2004, the school established a partnership with the

University of Nottingham The University of Nottingham is a public research university in Nottingham, England. It was founded as University College Nottingham in 1881, and was granted a royal charter in 1948. Nottingham's main campus (University Park Campus, Nottingh ...

, which led to the foundation of the University of Nottingham Ningbo China. Zhejiang party secretary

Xi Jinping Xi Jinping, pronounced (born 15 June 1953) is a Chinese politician who has been the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Chairman of the Central Military Commission (China), chairman of the Central Military Commission ...

attended the campus inauguration ceremony. In October 2019, the school opened its oversea campus in

Hamburg, Germany Hamburg (, ; ), officially the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg,. is the List of cities in Germany by population, second-largest city in Germany after Berlin and List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, 7th-lar ...

. In 2021, the school was accredited for three master's degree programs. During the White Paper Protests, students at Zhejiang Wanli University gained attention on social media and from rallies for posting a protest notice outside their classroom walls. The notice read: "Mourn, do not be numb, do not remain silent, do not turn a blind eye, do not forget." Nearby, a torn poster with the word "Freedom" was displayed. At the bottom, a famous quote from writer Lu Xun was included: "May the youth of China rid themselves of apathy." The notice concluded with the words: "This society must at least give young people hope!" In June 2024, the school established Ningbo Modern Agricultural College (宁波现代农学院) at the former site of the Zhejiang Agricultural University Ningbo Branch.

Notable alumni

Li Qiang Li Qiang (; born July 1959) is a Chinese politician who has been serving as the eighth and current premier of China since March 2023. He has been elevated to the second-ranking member on the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist ...

, 8th

premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China The premier of China, officially the Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, is the head of government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and leader of the State Council. This post was established in 1911 near the e ...

References

External links