On November 9, 2025, the China-Gulf States Dialogue on Higher Education Cooperation was successfully held during the 2025 International Forum on Higher Education. The event was hosted by the College of Education at Zhejiang University and aimed to promote higher education collaboration between China and Arabian Gulf countries.

Attendees included WANG Fang, Party Secretary of the College of Education at Zhejiang University, and KAN Yue, Dean of the College; XU Xiaozhou, Qiu Shi Distinguished Professor at Zhejiang University; ZHAO Yuchi, Executive Director of the International Research and Training Centre for Rural Education under the auspices of UNESCO; Anasse Bouhlal, Regional Programme Specialist for Higher Education and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) at the UNESCO Regional Office for the Gulf States and Yemen; as well as delegations of university leaders from Oman, including Ali Al Bimani, President of the National University of Science and Technology, and Said Haimerd, President of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences. Other attendees included Hatem Masri, President of Applied Science University in Bahrain; Salem Al-Naemi, President of the University of Doha for Science and Technology; and BI Xiaohan, Deputy Director of UNESCO-ICHEI.

China-Gulf States Dialogue on Higher Education Cooperation (Source: Zhejiang University)

During the dialogue, the College of Education at Zhejiang University signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement with the UNESCO Regional Office for the Gulf States and Yemen, marking a new stage in their collaboration. KAN Yue, Dean of the College of Education at Zhejiang University, stated that the school will leverage its strong foundation in education disciplines and teacher training to engage in practical cooperation with partners in Gulf countries, including student and faculty exchanges, joint research, and curriculum development. This collaboration aims to address global educational challenges and contribute to the building of a shared future for humanity.

Signing Ceremony (Source: Zhejiang University)

Anasse Bouhlal, Regional Programme Specialist for Higher Education and TVET at the UNESCO Regional Office for the Gulf States and Yemen, noted that strategic cooperation with partners such as the College of Education at Zhejiang University and UNESCO-ICHEI can effectively promote the two-way exchange of educational resources, advanced ideas, and practical experience between Gulf countries and China, jointly enhancing the quality of education and advancing equitable and inclusive education in the region.

Anasse Bouhlal, Regional Programme Specialist for Higher Education and TVET at the UNESCO Regional Office for the Gulf States and Yemen (Source: Zhejiang University)

In her speech, BI Xiaohan, Deputy Director of UNESCO-ICHEI, highlighted that in Gulf countries, partner universities of the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE) are actively leveraging the IIOE platform and its high-quality course resources, combined with localized faculty training practices, to steadily advance the digital transformation of higher education. The core of this initiative is to cultivate innovative talent that meets regional development needs by enhancing the digital competencies and AI literacy of higher education professionals.

During the dialogue and exchange session, university presidents from Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and other countries provided detailed introductions to the current state and distinctive features of international cooperation at their institutions. Participants engaged in thorough and lively discussions on trends, challenges, and opportunities in higher education. Through these in-depth exchanges, both sides gained a more comprehensive and profound understanding of each other’s higher education systems, development levels, and unique strengths.

Dialogue and Communication (Source: Zhejiang University)