The International Engineering and Technological University (METU) held the official opening ceremony of the Jingshi Institute, a joint initiative with Xinjiang Applied Vocational and Technical College. Conducted online, the international event marked an important milestone in strengthening educational and research ties between the Kazakhstani university and its Chinese partner.

The ceremony was distinguished by the participation of Yu Changxue, Director of the Center for International People-to-People Exchange under the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China. His address and announcement of the opening of the Jingshi Institute were central moments of the ceremony, highlighting the importance of people-to-people and academic cooperation between the two countries.

The International Engineering and Technological University was represented by Darkhan Berikovich Akpanbetov, Rector of the University; Assel Assylbekovna Abdildayeva, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and International Relations; and Karlygash Nurlanovna Shokhayeva, Director of the Department of International Cooperation.

Participants from Xinjiang Applied Vocational and Technical College included Yeleubek Nakysbek, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Rector of the College; Kavziyat Sydyk, Member of the Party Committee and Head of the Publicity Department; Zhou Longhai, Head of the Development Planning and International Relations Department; Lu Zhe, full-time lecturer in the Faculty of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering and laboratory engineer; and Dilnur Kurbanjan, full-time lecturer in the Faculty of Petroleum and Chemical Engineering.

The programme featured introductory videos about both institutions, welcoming addresses by their leaders, and the ceremonial unveiling of the Institute’s commemorative plaque at METU. Rector of the International Engineering and Technological University Darkhan Berikovich Akpanbetov and Rector of Xinjiang Applied Vocational and Technical College Yeleubek Nakysbek addressed the participants. The opening marked a further step towards practical cooperation aimed at expanding opportunities for students and faculty.

Friendship between the peoples of Kazakhstan and China was a particularly meaningful theme in the Chinese partners’ speeches. Drawing on the imagery of mountains and rivers, the speakers emphasised that geographical distances can be overcome through mutual trust and a shared commitment to cooperation. Education and science serve as a bridge that brings people together, deepens mutual understanding, and lays the foundations for lasting ties between future generations. This idea became one of the defining themes of the ceremony.

During the meeting, the two sides agreed to develop student academic mobility and joint research activities. These areas were identified as important foundations for the next stage of the partnership. Academic exchanges offer students opportunities to experience another country’s educational environment, broaden their professional horizons, and gain international experience. Research cooperation will enable specialists to combine their expertise and research interests in addressing shared challenges.

The Jingshi Institute is intended to provide a platform for putting these agreements into practice. Its establishment opens opportunities to exchange educational practices, develop direct connections between faculty members and researchers, and engage young people in international academic cooperation.

For METU, the opening of the Institute represents a significant step in advancing international partnerships and strengthening cooperation with China. The ceremony reflected both institutions’ shared commitment to long-term collaboration, with the aim of delivering new opportunities for students, joint research, and the training of qualified professionals.

The opening of the Jingshi Institute became a symbol of mutual trust and a shared readiness to build a common future through education. Initiatives such as this give practical meaning to friendship between countries, turning goodwill into lasting academic ties and shared achievements.