October 6 – Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo (EIT) and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a strategic cooperation agreement at the KAUST campus in Saudi Arabia, marking a significant step forward in their collaboration in technological innovation and international education. The agreement was signed by Prof. Shiyi Chen, President of EIT, and Prof. Sir Edward Byrne, President of KAUST, representing their respective institutions.
Signing Ceremony
According to the agreement, both parties will focus on key interdisciplinary research areas such as clean energy, advanced manufacturing, materials science, and environmental sustainability. Both parties will actively promote joint research, faculty and student exchanges, joint training programs, and technology transfers of innovative achievements, aiming to build a long-term, pragmatic, and win-win partnership.
Prof. Sir Edward Byrne warmly welcomed Prof. Shiyi Chen and his delegation. He acknowledged EIT as a new-type research university that has demonstrated innovation and foresight in talent aggregation and the development of its industry-academia-research ecosystem, showcasing admirable research capabilities and global vision. He expressed KAUST's commitment to collaborate with EIT by leveraging complementary resources and research synergies to jointly cultivate the next generation of global leaders in science and technology, thereby promoting deeper cooperation in technological innovation between the Middle East and East Asia regions.
Prof. Shiyi Chen expressed his gratitude for the warm reception extended by Prof. Sir Edward Byrne and recalled their productive collaborative experience. He acknowledged KAUST as a globally leading research university that serves as a pioneering model among new-type higher education institutions, whose successful experience warrants study and reference. He emphasized that the EIT as a new-type research university characterized by its high-caliber foundation, compact yet distinguished structure, research-oriented paradigm, and globalized vision, is actively seizing development opportunities to adapt to and lead the new wave of technological revolution and industrial transformation. He stated that the strategic collaboration with KAUST will further strengthen EIT's connections within the global scientific and technological innovation network. Through in-depth cooperation between both institutions, Prof. Shiyi Chen looks forward to jointly advancing technological innovation and addressing major global challenges in sustainable development.
This agreement represents a major milestone in EIT's strategy to expand its global network. In recent years, the university has continuously deepened its international cooperation network, actively expanded exchanges and joint research with world-class universities, and consistently enhanced its international influence and scientific research capabilities. The collaboration with KAUST will inject new momentum into the university's sustained development in the fields of global higher education and technological innovation.
The ceremony was attended by key representatives from both universities. The KAUST delegation included Prof. Omar Knio, Vice President of Education and Academic Affairs; Prof. Arwa Yousuf AI-Aama, Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Advisor to the Provost; Dr. Jun Abrajano, Chief of Staff to the President; Dr. Chak Chan, Dean of the Physical Science and Engineering; Dr. Salma Kammoun, Educational Partnerships Manager. The EIT delegation included Prof. Chunmiao Zheng, Vice President for Global Engagement; Prof. Chuanwu Xi, Vice Provost for Global Engagement; and Ms. Lan Song, Head of the Office of Global Engagement.
About King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
Established in 2009 and located in Thuwal on the shores of the Red Sea, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is a globally recognized research university and a key scientific pillar of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 strategy. The university primarily focuses on graduate education, uses English as its primary language of instruction, and specializes in frontier fields such as marine science, energy science, materials science, environmental engineering, computer science, and artificial intelligence. Renowned for its exceptional research capabilities and international faculty, KAUST consistently ranks first in academic influence in the Middle East and North Africa region. According to the 2025 CWUR World University Rankings, KAUST is positioned 237th globally, 1st in Saudi Arabia, and 55th in Asia. It has also maintained its top position for consecutive years in the Times Higher Education (THE) Arab University Rankings. KAUST demonstrates outstanding performance in the Nature Index and lists of Highly Cited Researchers, with particularly strong international influence in energy, environment, chemistry, and engineering technology research. It has become an important global center for technological innovation and sustainability research.
