On September 19, the event Experience China: National Doctoral Forum for International Students in China & Silk Road Doctoral Forum (82nd Session) was held in China University of Geosciences (CUG). Sponsored by China Scholarship Council and undertaken by CUG, the forum drew faculty and students from renowned universities including Xi’an Jiaotong University, Beijing Institute of Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan University, Central South University, China University of Petroleum (Beijing) and Chang’an University. A total of over 2,000 participants attended the forum in a combined online-and-offline format.
Figure 1 ZHU Ji, Vice Dean of International Education College, delivers the opening remarks
Figure 2 ABDALLAH MOHAMED OSMAN MOHAMED TAHA ALI, a CUG PhD student, chairs the session
The forum featured keynote presentations and parallel discussions. In the keynote session, international doctoral students from eight universities delivered talks themed “AI-Driven Interdisciplinarity, Integrated Innovation for Cutting-edge Advances”. Their presentations covered frontier topics including AI-enabled mineral exploration, intelligent control of future energy systems, continuous earth observation, and digitalization and intelligent drilling optimization of oil and gas wells. These talks highlighted the interdisciplinary research achievements of international students in China.
Figure 3 MAWA TUZINGILA ROMULUS, a Congolese (DRC) doctoral student of CUG, delivers a keynote presentation
Figure 4 SAIF ULLAH, a Pakistani doctoral student from Xi’an Jiaotong University, delivers a keynote presentation
Figure 5 ISMAHANE MERZOUK, an Algerian doctoral student from Chang’an University, delivers a keynote presentation
Figure 6 NOOR JAVERIA, a Pakistani doctoral student from Central South University, delivers a keynote presentation
Figure 7 Shimaa Holail Younis Sayed Rabaa, an Egyptian doctoral student from Wuhan University, delivers a keynote presentation
Figure 8 MOUJOOD MOHAMED SHIRAJ, a Sri Lankan doctoral student from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, delivers a keynote presentation
Figure 9 AL-SUMERI ABDULRAHMAN ABDO ALI, a Yemeni doctoral student from Beijing Institute of Technology, delivers a keynote presentation
Figure 10 Omer Ahmednour Abdalrahman Ahmednour, a Sudanese doctoral student from China University of Petroleum (Beijing), delivers a keynote presentation
The parallel discussions were divided into three sub-forums themed “Thinking with AI in Geoscience: Data, Scale, and Problem Formulation”, “Role of AI in Research Innovation and Methodological Development” and “Artificial Intelligence for Mineral Exploration”, chaired by ABDALLAH MOHAMED OSMAN MOHAMED TAHA ALI, Jean Pierre Namahoro and MAWA TUZINGILA ROMULUS respectively. Participants conducted in-depth exchanges, based on their own research experience, on practical topics including data collection and selection, research innovation methods and academic paper publication. Featuring a passionate and focused academic atmosphere, the discussions with strong practical value effectively helped participants improve their research literacy and international academic communication competence.
Figure 11 Parallel Discussion Group 1 conducts academic exchanges
Figure 12 Parallel Discussion Group 2 conducts academic exchanges
Figure 13 Parallel Discussion Group 3 conducts academic exchanges
Figure 14 Jean Pierre Namahoro, a postdoctoral researcher of CUG, concludes the forum
Figure 15 ZHU Ji, Vice Dean of International Education College, presents certificates to keynote speakers
Figure 16 The audience listens attentively
This event fully displays the academic explorations and research achievements of international students in interdisciplinary fields such as artificial intelligence, geosciences, energy resources and information technology.
In recent years, CUG has undertaken the “Experience China” academic events for four consecutive years. Integrated with the Silk Road Doctoral Forum, these events establish a stable and long-term professional mechanism for academic exchanges among international students. Participants note that the forum opens channels for cross-university academic communication and further strengthens international students’ understanding and recognition of contemporary China.
The “Experience China” series of social practice and cultural experience activities has been launched by China Scholarship Council since 2013 for Chinese Government Scholarship students. The initiative aims to encourage international students to engage with local governments, communities, enterprises and rural areas, to gain first-hand insights into China’s social governance, economic development and scientific and technological progress. Committed to presenting a true and multi-dimensional China to the world, the activities have been well-received among international students.
