From January 19 to 31, the third Khalifa University’s Winter Youth Camp was held in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. China University of Petroleum,Beijing (CUP) took the lead in organizing a delegation of outstanding students from several Chinese universities, including CUP itself, Peking University, Tianjin University, Beijing Jiaotong University, and Shandong University of Science and Technology, to participate in the two-week exchange program in the UAE. Themed “Cutting-edge academic exchange, research practice empowerment, and in-depth cross-cultural mutual learning,” the camp aimed to broaden students’ international horizons, stimulate innovation in scientific research, and deepen education and energy cooperation between China and the UAE.
At the opening ceremony, representatives from Khalifa University extended a warm welcome to the faculty and students from various universities, noting that Khalifa University, as a world-leading research university, is consistently committed to building a platform for global talent exchange and cooperation. They expressed anticipation that this winter camp would further enhance mutual understanding between young people of Chinese and the UAE, injecting new momentum into the collaborative development of education and technology between the two countries.
The participants attended a series of lectures covering topics such as energy, environment, artificial intelligence, and biosciences, visited relevant laboratories, and engaged in Faculty Guided Projects led by Khalifa University professors. In these research scenarios, they immersed themselves in the full processes of project design, experimental operation, and data analysis on cutting-edge topics like energy materials, sustainable development, and AI applications, effectively developing their practical innovation and teamwork skills. In the Career Development Workshop, participants clarified their career planning directions through case analysis and simulated project collaboration, which built a solid foundation for becoming globally oriented interdisciplinary engineering professionals. The delegation also visited the globally leading energy enterprise, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). Through on-site tours of the technology exhibition hall and face-to-face exchanges with corporate technical experts, they gained deep insights into ADNOC’s development history, technological innovation achievements, and green low-carbon transition practices, and had discussions focusing on the innovative value of emerging technologies in oil and gas exploration, production and energy storage applications.
During the Chinese Culture Day, the delegation shew the profound heritage and charm of traditional Chinese culture through performances such as dragon dancing, calligraphy, cucurbit flute playing, and traditional Chinese cuisine cooking. CUP also set up an information booth to introduce the CUP’s disciplinary strengths, research achievements, and campus life, sincerely inviting Emirati friends to come to China for academic exchange. Dozens of Emirati students expressed their fondness for CUP and wrote down heartfelt blessings for China. In addition, the participants explored cultural landmarks such as the UAE Natural History Museum and Zayed National Museum, broadening their global perspectives through the exchange and integration of diverse cultures.
The participants expressed that this experience was precious and unforgettable, and they would integrate what they learned into future studies and research, contributing to the green transformation of the energy industry and the mutual exchange of Chinese and foreign civilizations.
This camp serves as a significant extension of the 17-year strategic partnership between CUP and Khalifa University, which effectively enhanced students’ academic literacy, research capabilities, and international communication skills, and further deepened the friendly cooperation between the two universities and their partner universities. It has written a vivid chapter in advancing the Belt and Road energy cooperation network and promoting collaboration of education, culture and energy sector between China and the UAE.
Khalifa University, recognized as the top university in the UAE, is a member of the World Energy University Network (WEUN) . Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2009, CUP and Khalifa University have achieved positive outcomes in joint talent cultivation, deepened research cooperation, and strengthened collaborative innovation. The success of the camp further strengthened WEUN’s role as a platform for promoting global youth exchanges, mutual learning, and deeper understanding of energy transition.
