The continuing education in NBU can be traced back to the correspondence courses offered by Ningbo Teachers College in 1958.

November, 1997 marks the birth of Adult Education School of Ningbo University and its beginning of continuing education, following the merger of former NBU, Ningbo Teachers College, and Zhejiang Fisheries College Ningbo Branch.

In May 2009, Continuing Education and Training Center was established, along with a management system that explicitly separates regulation from management and clearly defines areas of responsibility, thus ushering in a prosperous period for continuing education of NBU.

In 2011, NBU was chosen among the first host of experimental teaching demo bases for continuing education and entitled to offer graduate programs for continuing education. The school won the first prize for National Teaching Achievement Award for Higher Education in 2014.

To encourage lifelong learning and respond to the practical needs of a society where learning is universally pursued, a guiding principle that aims to provide qualified talents for the regional socio-economic development and industrial restructuring has been set in motion. The school puts forward a set of educational philosophies including precise and scientific management of school, competitive and distinct form of education, all-round development, quality service, cooperation and mutual benefits. A guiding maxim that places a premium on high quality teaching and adaptability to market dynamics and pursues excellence and progress via reform and innovation is fully implemented.