University of Nottingham losing its China relationship could cost £70 million a year

University of Nottingham has claimed it could lose over £70 million a year if its relationship with the Chinese city, Ningbo, came to an end.

Documents have recently been released showing that both Nottingham universities called for the city council to urgently seek Foreign Office advice on ending its relationship with Ningbo, saying the decision would cause “insult” and “embarrassment”.

Both claimed it would create a “hostile environment” for Chinese students, businesses and visitors. Figures across UoN and Nottingham Trent show 4,237 (3,592 at UON and 645 at Trent) of its students came from China during the 2021/22 academic year.

The council considered ending its twinning formal relationship, started in 2005, with Ningbo in 2023 after protesters raised concerns over human rights in the Chinese state. The new documents that were forced to be published by Nottingham City Council after a court ruling, now reveal the strong opposition raised by both universities.

The relationship with Ningbo began when UoN opened a campus there in 2004, making it the first foreign independent university campus in China to be established. It was opened by John Prescott, the deputy prime minister of the time and the campus even includes its own version of the Trent Building.

via Arran Bee on Creative Commons

The relationship continued to grow, with the extension of Nottingham’s tram network seeing the steel bridge across the city’s ring road named the Ningbo Friendship Bridge in 2014.

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A petition was signed by 1,500 people for the relationship to be reviewed, created by the Nottingham Stands with Hong Kong group. Concerns includes the passing of a controversial national security law in Hong Kong, which gave Beijing more powers in the country than it ever had previously.

An impact assessment was prepared for the council by both universities, however the council refused access to this assessment and other materials surrounding its decision to not end the relationship with Ningbo. The assessment was signed off by Professor Cillian Ryan from Nottingham Trent and Professor Robert Mokaya of the University of Nottingham. A First-tier Tribunal rejected these arguments on February 7th and Nottingham City Council published all the required documents late on March 14th.

Their impact assessment reads: “Civic, cultural and economic relationships with China take many years to develop because of the importance they place on the symbolism of partnership.

“At a local level, the decision would cause significant embarrassment, insult and generate considerable anger amongst businesses, citizens and the local authorities in Ningbo – where the University of Nottingham maintains its campus. Due to the aforementioned international diplomatic consequences, we strongly suggest the city council seek the [Foreign Office’s] advice and consideration as a matter of urgency.

“It is to be expected that the media and social media attention in China will portray Nottingham as a distinctively hostile environment in which to study, live and do business.”

According to the Nottingham Post, it also claims the decision to end the relationship would result in a decline of Chinese students enrolling in the city, estimated at 40 per cent and worse case of 80 per cent. For UoN alone, this would result in an annual loss of between £37 million and £70 million plus. Alongside this, it could have shrunk Nottingham’s economy by £100 million for each reduced student cohort after this decision.

The impact assessment concludes that addressing human rights concerns, which also included Xinjiang human rights abuses, would be best addressed by “leveraging” the UK’s relationship with China.

A letter from both universities to Nottingham City Council’s then leader, David Mellen, said: “Cancelling twinned status with the city of Ningbo presents a risk to the core operating model of the University of Nottingham, which has a campus in the city with over 7,000 students, 1,000 members of staff, and has served as a vital link for business and academia between our city and China.

“We hope this decision will not be rushed into, and that all the benefits of twinning arrangements can be carefully considered, together with partner stakeholders, before any decision is made.”

Featured image via Matt Buck on Creative Commons