ZWU adheres to the educational philosophy of “international integration”, emphasizes external exchanges and cooperation, aiming to cultivate a rich international atmosphere. In the past two years, the school’s international competitiveness has ranked 37th in the “China Public University International Competitiveness Ranking”. ZWU has established inter-school cooperation with over 80 universities and colleges in more than 30 countries and regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Czech Republic, Australia, and Japan. This cooperation includes programs such as student exchange, overseas study, 2+2 dual-degree programs, and integrated bachelor’s and master’s programs. Nearly 500 ZWU students participate in international exchange and learning programs at partner institutions each year.

In recent years, through various platforms established by ZWU, an increasing number of Wanli students have pursued further studies abroad after completing their undergraduate degrees. Over the past three years, ZWU’s international admission rate has reached 2.5%, 5.1%, and 7.14%, showing a year-on-year upward trend. Every year, numerous students are admitted to top-ranked universities worldwide, including those top 100 universities in QS World University Rankings, for example, University College London, Columbia University, the University of Edinburgh, the University of Melbourne, and the Royal College of Art, the United Kingdom.

ZWU proactively supports the “Belt and Road” initiative and strengthens the construction of high-level international cooperation platforms. Up to now, it has been approved for the establishment of 2 distinctive “Belt and Road” education cooperation platforms, 4 national and regional research centers, and 3 national language and culture centers in Ningbo. Ningbo Maritime Silk Road Institute has been approved as a provincial-level new-type university think tank and the first batch of Zhejiang international cultural exchange bases. The Central and Eastern European Economic and Trade Research Center has been approved as a key nurturing think tank by the Zhejiang provincial Federation of Social Sciences and a national and regional research center approved by the Ministry of Education. The Hamburg campus was granted the first batch of “Belt and Road ‘Silk Road Colleges’” in Zhejiang Province, and ZWU is recognized as the first batch of construction units for international student education studios on national situations in Zhejiang Province.