In a bid to foster international collaboration between industry and academia, on the afternoon of October 7th, CDUT, in partnership with Greatwall Drilling Co., Ltd. (GWDC) of PetroChina, convened an online exchange meeting with Khalifa University (KU) in the UAE. The meeting was attended by key figures including Lang Xianguo, Director of the Department of International Exchanges & Cooperation and Party Secretary of the College of International Education (CIE), Li Shan, Dean of CIE, Ge Yizhu, research fellow at the Institute of Sedimentary Geology, Huang Yanyu, Foreign Affairs Specialist of the Department of International Exchanges & Cooperation, Zhang Bin, Deputy General Manager of the UAE Project Department of GWDC, Zhang Lei, Manager of Marketing Department, and Dr. Ashraf Al Najdawi, Vice President of KU.
The Online Meeting
With Li Shan presiding over the meeting, Lang Xianguo and Dr. Ashraf Al Najdawi both provided insights into the historical development, distinctive features, and international engagement of their respective institutions. Ge Yizhu, an alumnus of KU, expressed his gratitude to his alma mater and his eagerness for collaborative efforts. Zhang Bin detailed the operations of the UAE Project Department of GWDC. Following this, representatives from all three parties engaged in comprehensive discussions on potential cooperative areas and models, reaching a preliminary consensus on future collaboration.
During the meeting, Li Shan highlighted KU’s international acclaim in research and talent cultivation, particularly in fields such as materials, petroleum, nuclear energy, and aerospace. She noted the shared challenges of energy transition, ecological conservation, and artificial intelligence research that China and the UAE face, and emphasized the growing collaboration between the two nations in the realm of science and education. She expressed a sincere hope that the three parties could leverage their strengths for mutual benefit, enhancing research and academic cooperation in ecological protection, new energy technology innovation, and planetary science, thereby contributing to a China-Arab community with a shared future.
Dr. Ashraf Al Najdawi recognized the strong complementary nature and vast potential of the collaboration between the two universities. He suggested that both sides capitalize on their strengths in geology, petroleum, resources, and environmental studies to jointly cultivate international green technology talents and support the high-quality development of carbon-neutral industries in both countries. Zhang Bin noted the high relevance of the research fields of GWDC, CDUT, and KU, and expressed optimism for the solid foundation of international industry-academia-research cooperation among the three parties. He looked forward to further integration of scientific and technological innovation resources, deepening the integration of industry and education, and achieving high-quality development collectively.
The meeting concluded with a consensus on several areas of cooperation, including undergraduate exchanges, joint doctoral training, collaborative international courses and lectures, summer and winter camp activities, and internships. Plans were also made to hold academic seminars between the relevant colleges of the two institutions in the near future. This exchange meeting laid a solid foundation for advancing CDUT’s international industry-academia-research cooperation and fostering friendly exchanges between Chinese and Arab youth.
In March 2024, CDUT signed a cooperation agreement with GWDC to explore innovative models of international collaboration between universities and enterprises. Through the proactive outreach of GWDC, a cooperative relationship was established with KU. Located in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, KU encompasses a wide range of engineering disciplines, including mechanics, materials, electronics, chemical engineering, petroleum, nuclear energy, and aerospace. The university spans over 135,000 square meters and boasts 105 laboratories. Ranked 230th in the 2024 QS World University Rankings, KU leads in the Arab region and is emerging as a premier world-class institution in the Middle East and Africa.
