From September 21 to 25, a 9-member expert group for the clinical medicine program accreditation, appointed by the Ministry of Education, conducted an on-site assessment at Ningbo University. The group was led by Professor Chen Xiang, Executive Vice President of Central South University and Dean of Xiangya School of Medicine (as Group Leader), and Professor Yu Xiaosong, Former Vice President of China Medical University (as Deputy Group Leader). Other members included Professor Fu Li from Beijing Health Vocational College, Professor Cheng Min from Shandong Second Medical University, Professor Zhou Lei from Nanjing Medical University, Professor Wang Yajun from Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Professor Zhang Jinxiang from Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Professor Wang Lixiang from Kangfu University, and Jia Nali (Project Administrator). This marked Ningbo University’s acceptance of the on-site assessment for the second round of national clinical medicine program accreditation by the Ministry of Education.

On the morning of September 22, the kick-off meeting for the on-site accreditation of the clinical medicine program was held in Bihua Hall of Anzhong Building. All members of the expert group attended the meeting, along with Sun Xiangdong, Deputy Director of Ningbo Municipal Health Commission; Cai Ronggen, President of Ningbo University and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Zhang Zhenzhu, Deputy Party Secretary of Ningbo University; and Li Weiping and Zhou Qing, Vice Presidents of Ningbo University. The first phase of the meeting was chaired by Li Weiping, and the second phase by Chen Xiang.

In his speech, Cai Ronggen extended a welcome to the expert group for their on-site assessment. He introduced Ningbo University’s development history, the basic status of discipline and program construction, as well as the talent cultivation system and objectives for clinical medicine. He also stated the university’s stance on conducting the clinical medicine program accreditation. On behalf of Ningbo Municipal Health Commission, Sun Xiangdong delivered a speech, expressing the hope that the assessment would enhance the standardization and innovation of clinical medical education in Ningbo, continuously optimize the medical talent cultivation mechanism. He added that the Municipal Health Commission would further strengthen coordination and support to fully promote the development of Ningbo University’s clinical medicine program and jointly elevate Ningbo’s medical education to a higher level of quality. Chen Xiang elaborated on the significance, objectives, and standards of the accreditation. Vice President Li Weiping gave a report covering four aspects: the development history of the university and its Medical College, program construction, achievements in running the program, and future development plans.

During the accreditation period, the expert group listened to reports from Ningbo University and its Medical College on the development of the clinical medicine program. They organized 11 seminars involving participants at various levels, including university leaders, heads of functional departments, representatives of the University Undergraduate Teaching Committee and Teaching Supervision Committee, as well as faculty representatives, student representatives, and teaching administrators from the Medical College. The group also visited the University History Museum, the main building of the Medical College, and the planned site of Fangqiao Base; inspected the Basic Medical Experimental Teaching Center, scientific research laboratories, Clinical Skills Center, teaching and research sections, university library, information center, student canteens, and dormitories; and visited the Affiliated First Hospital of Ningbo University, the Affiliated Women and Children’s Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo Second Hospital, and Minglou Sub-district Community Health Service Center. Additionally, the experts observed theoretical lectures, teaching ward rounds, PBL (Problem-Based Learning) teaching, and clinical skills training, attended online lectures, reviewed various relevant materials, and held interviews with heads of functional departments (such as the Development Planning Office and the Student Development and Service Office), members of the Medical College leadership team, and heads of the Organization and Personnel Department of the Affiliated First Hospital. Through visits and seminars, the experts engaged in extensive interactions with teachers and students of Ningbo University, gaining an in-depth and detailed understanding of the current status of the university’s clinical medicine program.

On the morning of September 25, the feedback meeting on the on-site assessment of the clinical medicine program was held in Bihua Hall of Anzhong Building. All members of the expert group attended the meeting, together with Sun Xiangdong, Deputy Director of Ningbo Municipal Health Commission; Zhang Ruili, Secretary of the Party Committee of Ningbo University; Zhang Zhenzhu, Deputy Party Secretary of Ningbo University; and Li Weiping, Vice President of Ningbo University.

At the feedback meeting, Group Leader Chen Xiang read out the Preliminary Accreditation Report on Ningbo University’s Clinical Medicine Program. He introduced the implementation of the on-site assessment, and in accordance with the accreditation standards for clinical medicine programs, analyzed the strengths of Ningbo University’s clinical medical education from 10 aspects: mission and outcomes, curriculum plan, academic assessment and evaluation, students, faculty, educational resources, educational evaluation, scientific research, management and administration, and reform and development. The expert group recognized that the university and its Medical College had closely aligned with the development needs of the "Healthy China," "Healthy Zhejiang," and "Healthy Ningbo" strategies, seized the opportunity of Ningbo’s "Medical Peak Program," and promoted the development of various undertakings and the overall improvement of talent cultivation. They also affirmed the university’s emphasis on the development plan of the Medical College and the policy support provided by Ningbo Municipal Government for medical education, while putting forward suggestions for addressing existing shortcomings and areas for improvement.

Zhang Ruili, Secretary of the Party Committee of Ningbo University, expressed gratitude to the expert group. On behalf of the university, she made three commitments: First, to enhance political stance and strengthen top-level design. The university will effectively strengthen overall leadership over medical education and comprehensively improve the quality of clinical medicine talent cultivation and program development. Second, to adhere to a problem-oriented approach and establish a closed-loop rectification mechanism. The university will immediately set up a leading group for rectification work to fully implement the "follow-up actions" of the accreditation and push the development of the clinical medicine program to a new level. Third, to strengthen process supervision and pool collaborative efforts. The university will incorporate the rectification issues identified by the experts into key supervision and inspection items to ensure that all improvement tasks are completed on schedule and with high quality.

Heads of relevant functional departments, representatives of the University Undergraduate Teaching Committee and Undergraduate Teaching Supervision Committee, members of the Party and administrative leadership team of the Medical College, principal and vice principal in charge of teaching from the College of Science and Technology, secretaries or deans and vice deans in charge of teaching from all directly affiliated hospitals, as well as the president and vice president in charge of teaching of Ningbo Second Hospital, attended both the kick-off meeting and the feedback meeting.