UNNC student with offers from Oxbridge shares her passion for mathematics
Feng Jiang, a year four student in Mathematics with Applied Mathematics at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC), has received offers to three master programmes at both the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge.
Feng Jiang stated that it was due to UNNC’s extensive curriculum covering finance, data science and statistics that she was able to apply to a wide range of programmes. “My current plan is to first study computational finance at graduate level, after which I will consider working for a while in order to develop more vocational skills”.
After receiving admission letters from both Oxford and Cambridge, Feng Jiang stated, “On the one hand, it may be because my grades are reasonably high, and on the other hand, the year three summer research programme helped out a lot”. Feng Jiang joined several classmates last summer in a research project with Professor Behrouz Emamizadeh, Head of Department of Mathematical Sciences at UNNC.
“The content of the summer study was regarding research on differential equations. We wrote a research paper on this, which has now been accepted into academic journals”. It was this experience that really motivated Feng Jiang to pursue further study in mathematics. “I really enjoy the process of losing track of time and entering a state of flow while solving mathematical problems.”
Contrary to her high school experience, Feng Jiang said the UNNC professors pay more attention to cultivating students’ intuition as well as encouraging them to be proactive learners. For example, her tutor, Professor Emamizadeh, not only explains theoretical points during class hours, but also puts forward various hypotheses for students to research after class to help solidify the content taught in class. It was due to this kind of teaching style at UNNC that Feng Jiang felt her knowledge of mathematics greatly expanded as well as her desire to learn more.
The UNNC Mathematics and Applied Mathematics programme includes knowledge of multiple fields such as finance, data science and statistics. The importance of mathematics cannot be understated as it is the cornerstone of today's most cutting-edge disciplines such as artificial intelligence, space exploration, global financial systems, drones, smart chemistry, and drug simulation.
During her four-year-long university life, Feng Jiang has developed various transferable skills in problem-solving, creativity, and teamwork. She had the opportunity to visit London as one of the five representatives of UNNC to compete in the "Collaborative Laboratory" of the 4th Global Grand Challenges Forum. The competition required students from China, the United States, and the United Kingdom to form multinational teams and come up with an innovative project to address a major global challenge within 24 hours.
During the competition, she collaborated with youth around the world, reading research literature, discussing social issues and hot topics in technology, and making predictions about social trends. For her, the whole process was a brand-new experience that inspired her creativity and was a highlight of her university life.
Feng Jiang is also a member of the UNNC football team. "UNNC has given me lots of precious opportunities," she said, "Participating in the football team has not only improved my physical fitness, but also enhanced my teamworking skills and taught me to push myself to my limits”.
"I believe that everyone is an independent individual with their own characteristics and personality. There is no single standard for success. As long as one becomes their true selves, they are successful. It is my experiences at UNNC that have given me the freedom and confidence to shape my own future”.
