Development Strategy
At its founding in 2010, the school established ‘industry–education integration’ as its core development strategy, aiming to serve Ningbo’s port and shipping logistics industry while building a first-class application-oriented management school with a focus on port and shipping logistics and e-commerce. In 2016, in response to the university’s new development goals and regional economic needs, the school revised its strategy to include ‘talent development’ and ‘industry–research–education integration.’ In 2019, after joining the AMBA & BGA membership network, the school incorporated an ‘Internationalisation Strategy.’ By 2024, aligning with its BGA Gold Accreditation application, China’s national economic transition toward green development, and the university’s doctoral programme development, the school had integrated ‘discipline development’ and ‘sustainable development’ into its overall strategy.
Currently, the school’s development strategy consists of five key pillars: talent-driven development, discipline development, industry-research-education integration, internationalisation, and sustainable development.
(i) Talent-driven development strategy
Highly qualified talent is the main source of institutional development, which is achieved through the following three initiatives: (a) Integrated development of disciplines, research platforms and talent. By adopting an integrated ‘disciplines + platforms + talent’ approach, the school actively recruits highly qualified scholars and researchers at various levels, strengthening its faculty team and driving research innovation; (b) Optimising the Talent Recruitment and Development Environment. The school collaborates with local governments, intermediary organisations, research institutes, and high-tech enterprises to improve recruitment efficiency and faculty support services, ensuring a high-quality talent pipeline that aligns with the school’s academic and disciplinary goals; (c) Implementation of the ‘Qianhu Talent Programme’. The programme focuses on cultivating influential academic leaders, discipline pioneers, and key researchers, forming innovative and high-impact academic teams to advance the development of specialised disciplines and enhance the school’s academic strength.
(ii) Discipline development strategy
Focusing on port logistics and supply chain management, cross-border e-commerce, and digital innovation and management, the school aims to consolidate resources and establish a strong academic and talent hub. This strategy is implemented through the following: (a) High-level research and innovation platforms. The school fosters interdisciplinary integration by leveraging the Key Research Centre of Philosophy and Social Science of Zhejiang Province-Modern Port Service Industry and Creative Culture Research Centre, building influential research and social service platforms; (b) Breakthroughs in high-impact research outcomes. Addressing critical needs in the development of modern industry, the school systematically cultivates, supports, and advances high-level research projects, accelerating the incubation and output of cutting-edge scientific achievements; (c) Technology transfer and service capabilities. By promoting deep industry–academia–research collaboration, the school develops an industry-driven integration mechanism, enhancing the commercialisation of technology and social-service impact.
(iii)Industry-academic-education integration strategy
Through deep collaboration with industry, the school enhances the quality of talent cultivation while actively contributing to regional industrial development. This strategy is reached through the following: (a) University-enterprise partnerships. The school has leveraged Zhejiang Modern Industry School and the Provincial Cross-border E-commerce industry–education Integration Demonstration Base to establish close collaboration with leading enterprises, including the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, China Post Group and Geely Auto, jointly formulating talent training programmes and sharing resources; (b) Coordinated university–enterprise talent development. The school collaborates with industry-leading enterprises to co-develop specialised courses and practical training bases. It has established industry-focused programmes such as the SF Express Class, China Post Class, and International Shipping Class, allowing students to engage in real-world corporate operations and enhance their practical skills; (c) Innovative models for cooperation. The school has co-established research centres with major enterprises such as Guoyan Software and Eastar Group to conduct research on management innovation and technology services. These initiatives facilitate technological breakthroughs and the commercialisation of research, as well as encouraging student participation in research projects and academic competitions.
(iv)Internationalisation strategy
The school is dedicated to enhancing its global impact and competitiveness while cultivating business leaders with a global perspective. This vision is achieved through the following: (a) International accreditation. The school actively pursues AMBA & BGA Gold Accreditation, integrating sustainability, responsibility, and ethical principles into the entire talent cultivation process. It is engaged in strengthening collaboration and engagement with AMBA & BGA network member institutions; (b) International collaborative programmes. The school continues to deepen its partnerships with the University of Nottingham (UK), the State University of New York at Plattsburgh (US), and JAMK University of Applied Sciences (Finland) for joint research and talent development to foster global academic cooperation; (c) International academic exchange. The school organises international academic conferences, invites globally renowned scholars for lectures and discussions, and collaborates with overseas partner institutions through the Silk Road Entrepreneurship Education Network Demonstration Base to facilitate academic exchanges and visiting scholar programmes; (d) Students’ global exposure. Leveraging platforms such as the Hamburg campus, the school supports students in study-abroad programmes, international internships, and cross-border practical training. It continues to advance specialised international programmes, including the localised/globalised Supply Chain Management programme and the ‘2+2’ dual-degree programme, while increasing the proportion of international faculty and expanding education for international students; (e) Leveraging the SREEN Ningbo Base of the International Silk-Road Entrepreneurship Education Alliance, the school will strengthen partnerships with AMBA & BGA-accredited institutions to enhance global talent development.
(v)Sustainable development strategy
The school is committed to its long-term development to cultivate quality talent and continuously enhance its competitiveness. It has implemented initiatives in the following key areas to achieve this: (a) Governance structure. It continues to deepen the university–school dual-tier management system and the roles of the academic and teaching committees. Additionally, it is accelerating digital transformation to modernise its operations. By continuously refining its governance mechanisms, the school aims to enhance administrative efficiency and transparency, ensuring a more effective and well-structured management system; (b) New liberal arts disciplines. The school continuously updates educational concepts and teaching methods to enhance teaching quality, guided by the principles of sustainability and digital intelligence; (c) Embedded sustainability in the process of talent cultivation. Courses such as Responsible and Sustainable Management and Green Supply Chain Management incorporate sustainability, environmental responsibility, and ethics into the curriculum. Faculty are encouraged to conduct responsible research and guide students in applying the principles of sustainable development.
