Ningbo University Faculty of Maritime and Transportation is one of seven marine navigation institutions that were firstly recommended by the Ministry of Communications of China to the International Maritime Organization (IMO). It is also the Vice Chairman of the First Chinese Marine Navigation Institution Forum Standing Committee which was hosted by the Hong Kong Ship owners Association. To ensure the quality of education, “Maritime Education and Training Quality Management System" has been established to monitor the whole process of teaching according to the “STCW 78 / 10 Convention” and the “Maritime Education and Training Quality Management Rules of People’s Republic of China”. Aiming to establish the new talent cultivation model that focuses on the coordinative development of students’ knowledge, capability, and quality, the faculty not only puts its emphasis on teaching the students professional knowledge in navigation, but also pays lots of attention to the cultivation of humanistic quality and comprehensive quality. Leading by the development of two first-level disciplines as " Naval Architecture & Ocean Engineering" and" Transportation Engineering", the faculty actively promotes coordinated development among disciplinary by taking the shipping and port management advantages. As one of the most important platforms for training high-level logistics and shipping professionals in China, the faculty takes teaching as the main task. In the meantime, scientific research and social services are actively carried out. Based on the background of maritime economy in Zhejiang as well as local economic development, the faculty develops very fast around the themes of “Ocean”, “Port”, and “Shipping”. Extensive cooperation has been shown in the fields of new energy, new equipment, energy saving and environmental protection, new marine technology, marine economy industry, modern logistics, shipping services and smart logistics, and intelligent transportation. The full integration with the local industry gives the faculty special characteristics that make it distinctive from other faculties in Ningbo University.
The Faculty of Maritime and Transportation origins from two disciplines of Zhejiang fisheries College: Marine Navigation and Marine Engineering. The Marine Navigation was set in the Navigation Department in 1986 while the Marine Engineering was initially in the Mechanical Engineering Department in 1987. In 1991, the Marine Engineering was merged under the Department of Navigation and then was transferred from the Navigation Department in 1994 to the new department named Marine Engineering Department. In 1996, Zhejiang fisheries College Ningbo Branch was merged into Ningbo University. As a result, the Department of Navigation and Marine Engineering in Zhejiang fisheries College were merged as the Faculty of Maritime and Transportation in Ningbo University. In 2001, the navigation related majors in Ningbo Ocean School, which belongs to State Oceanic Administration, were also merged into the faculty.
The Faculty currently has four undergraduate programs (Marine Technology, Marine Engineering, Logistics Management and Ships and Ocean Engineering) and one graduate program (the Master of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering). It has three institutes in the fields of transportation science, mechatronics & energy engineering, and logistics & port management, respectively. It also has three master programs of secondary level discipline, a engineering master degree program on ship and ocean engineering, a doctoral program of secondary level discipline on fishing facilities and equipment, has signed a agreement with NAPIER University in the UK for joint training doctoral program. Among the three institutes, the Marine Technology Program is key discipline in Zhejiang Province and in Ningbo University. The Marine Engineering Program is the key discipline in Ningbo. The Logistics Management Program which is the key discipline in the city is the earliest undergraduate program that was approved by the Ministry of Education in Zhejiang Province. Besides, the program of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Transportation Engineering are all key disciplines in both Ningbo City and Zhejiang Province. Shipping and Port Logistics related disciplines are key service-oriented majors in Ningbo. The college also has four institutes as maritime technology, electrical and energy engineering, transportation and logistics, ship and ocean engineering. The national road traffic management Engineering Research Center, Ningbo University sub-center is also located in the college. It is also a main member of 2011 Modern Urban Transportation Technology Collaborative Innovation Center, and one main member of Logistics service system Collaborative Innovation Center in port and shipping system in Zhejiang, which is also the first 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center in Ningbo University.
In terms of the qualification of faculty, professor and associated professor account for 55%. And 92% of the faculty have master degree or Ph.D.. 50% of faculty has the master’s license, or chief engineer certificate. One of the faculty was chosen as a candidate in the second level in the Zhejiang New Century 151 Talent Project, and four teachers were selected as candidates in the third level. One of the faculty has been selected as the one candidate of New Century Ten-Bai-Qian Talents Project in Ministry of Transportation at the first level. One of the faculty has been selected as a candidate of Ningbo leader and top-notch talent at the first level, at the second level, and at the third level, respectively. Two of the teachers have been chosen as the Young academic leaders in high education sector in Zhejiang, and one has been awarded as one of young scientists who give outstanding contributions in Ningbo. Among the excellent instructor team, one received the award of Zhejiang Young Scientist with Outstanding Contributions. One of the faculty was selected as Top University Teacher in Ningbo, and the other one was selected as a candidate. Two research leaders were assigned in key disciplines in the university.
The faculty has adequate types of equipment and facilities for education and research. The laboratory center has equipments valued over 22.5 million Yuan and has approximately 3300m2 laboratory. The facilities include marine simulators, marine power plant simulators, simulation rooms for integrated logistics, port management labs, integrated navigation bridges, machine’s performance and testing labs, ship simulator, fire safety laboratory building, and a planetarium. This advanced laboratory center meets the needs of teaching and research for the faculty and students.
In the past five years, the faculty has completed over 300 research projects, including 20 projects from National High Technology Research and Development Program of China and National Natural Science Foundation Program, and 30 projects at national, provincial and ministerial levels. National Science and Technology Progress Award has been given to the college based on cooperation with enterprises. Several kinds of such awards at he provincial and city level have been also given. Aiming to giving services to the society, the college promotes local economic development through research cooperation, expert services, scientific research transfer, and various levels of education and training programs. In the last five years, more than 50,000 of employees have been trained here, and more than ten million of fund was obtained from of society research programs.
The faculty is always aiming to help the students to develop professionalism, team work experience, and practice capability. It takes initiates in educating students by fostering a sound study environment for students as well as providing career advice services to make the students more competitive in their specialized studies and social activities. It manages the students at the marine program based on the military management method. By emphasizing the young specialties, a culture of “trust, commutation, and help” has been promoted through establishing a now college culture system. A full education instructor culture is established through innovative interactive tutor system. Through expanding platforms of innovation and entrepreneurship, it proceeds to cultivate creative talents. By introducing the graduates promoting program, the employment level and competition index of students has been greatly improved. The satisfaction degree of employers has been improved.
In recent years, there are increasing innovation and entrepreneurial achievements. National research projects，published papers and licensed patents are main forms of achievements of students. Some students has been given the top award, the first grade award, and third level award of Challenge Cup Competition of Extracurricular Scientific Work for College Students in Zhejiang province. The investigation team has been selected as the one of the top fifteen survey team at the national level, the only one in Zhejiang province. Students won the first prize in the national college student mathematics competition. One student was awarded the title of top ten stars for business planning in Zhejiang province. From2013 to 2014,11 new companies were registered by students. Chinese education newspaper reported the student innovative business in the college by a titled special report named “students improve ability, enterprises obtain talents”. The employment rate of the students in the college reaches to 100%.
(2021-10)