Zhejiang Wanli University (), formerly the Ningbo Branch of Zhejiang Agricultural University (), is a public university in Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
The college is operated by the Zhejiang Wanli Education Group Company (state owned). The university has been specially approved by the Chinese Ministry of Education to pilot a market-oriented operating mechanism.According to the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Education, Zhejiang Wanli University's total allocated budget is 2.36 billion yuan( $341.9 million USDï¼Â.
According to the 2023 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), it ranks 350th among Chinese institutions.
In 1950ï¼ÂZhejiang Provincial Ningbo Agricultural Technical School was establishedï¼Âthe school is located at the site of Wuling College(æ¦å²Âå¦é¢), which was established by Chiang Kai-shek. 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.
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 (æµÂæ±Âä¸ÂéÂÂèÂÂä¸ÂæÂÂæ¯å¦é¢) in November. In 2002, the institution was granted "college" (å¦é¢) status, was renamed literally "Zhejiang Wanli College" (æµÂæ±Âä¸ÂéÂÂå¦é¢) in the Chinese language, and started to provide bachelor's degree programs.
In 2004, the school established a partnership with the University of Nottingham, which led to the foundation of the University of Nottingham Ningbo China. Zhejiang party secretary Xi Jinping attended the campus inauguration ceremony.
In October 2019, the school opened its oversea campus in Hamburg, Germany. 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 (å®Âæ³¢ç°代åÂÂå¦é¢) at the former site of the Zhejiang Agricultural University Ningbo Branch.