China-UAE Higher Education Forum and China-UAE Education Exhibition Held in Changsha
On April 15, the "China-UAE Higher Education Forum and China-UAE Education Exhibition" were held at Hunan Agricultural University, bringing together nearly 100 experts and scholars from over 40 domestic universities and more than 10 foreign institutions and universities to jointly explore a new chapter in educational development.
"Educational exchanges are becoming a new driving force for the development of bilateral relations between China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)," said Professor Sun Zhen from Zhejiang International Studies University. The UAE is actively advancing educational modernization, and Dubai, as a flagship region of the UAE, is vigorously encouraging international educational institutions to set up branches, creating new opportunities for educational cooperation between the two countries. However, compared to collaborations in economy and trade, energy, and other fields, educational cooperation remains relatively weak, with room for innovation in content and methods. "China and the UAE can enhance student exchange programs between universities, such as summer study programs and dual-degree training systems, encouraging young people from both sides to jointly participate in scientific research and innovation, social practice, and treatment."
Many renowned European universities have established close partnerships with Chinese institutions to jointly cultivate talent. However, the Middle East is a region with many countries, characterized by multilingualism and multiculturism. Although the region has a relatively high-quality basic education system, there is a strategic imbalance in areas such as higher education, agriculture, information technology, and digital economy. In this regard, Wang Sixiao, an associate professor of Beijing International Studies University, suggested exploring trilateral collaboration between China, Europe, and the UAE in joint educational programs, scientific research, and talent cultivation to establish an academic community. Efforts should be made to expand academic and research cooperation in Central and Eastern Europe, fostering interdisciplinary talent and producing joint research outcomes to provide strong support for shared development.
"We gather here not only to share experiences but also to use education as a bridge and technology as a vessel, working with our UAE partners to jointly outline the blueprint for the UAE Centennial Plan 2071," said a representative at the event. To deepen China-UAE people-to-people exchanges, the "Middle East Gulf International Cultural Exchange Center of Hunan Agricultural University" was officially launched. The center will serve as a communication bridge, fostering friendly exchanges between Chinese and UAE faculty and students while supporting shared aspirations. This is a vivid embodiment of building a China-Arab community with a shared future.
In recent years, Hunan Agricultural University has maintained friendly relations with over 130 universities and institutions in more than 40 countries, including the US, the UK, and Canada. It has engaged in educational collaborations with over 40 universities, such as the University of British Columbia in Canada, the University of Hawaii in the U.S., and Kagoshima University in Japan. "We are eager to expand cooperation with UAE universities and hope this education exhibition will serve as an opportunity to encourage more Chinese students to study in the UAE and more youth from the UEA to come to China, specifically Hunan Agricultural University, to jointly write a new chapter in cultural exchanges," said Zou Xuexiao, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and president of Hunan Agricultural University.