UoB joins hands with Shanghai university

Manama : University of Bahrain (UoB) and Shanghai University have signed a deal to create joint opportunities in the areas of new programmes, research, knowledge exchange and executive education.

The agreement, which builds on the existing Confucius institute already at UoB, was signed by UoB President Prof Riyad Hamzah and Prof Sally Gong Vice President from Shanghai University.

Commenting on the deal, Prof Riyad Hamzah said: “This partnership will build on our existing relationship with a clear focus on developing joint programmes that mutually benefit the economies and Bahrain and China through strengthening existing economic and academic ties, in addition to joint research in the critical areas of renewable energy, science and technology.”

Under China’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ strategy, Bahrain is a hub for a number of Chinese businesses looking to access the fast growing Gulf and wider Middle East region such as Huawei who recently set up In Bahrain as their Middle East base.

UoB also hosted a two-day joint conference with Shanghai University on renewable energy. Over fifty researchers from Bahrain, GCC and China presented research papers on the topic.

Stressing the advantage the region has in the renewable energy sector, Prof Riyad said, “The move into alternative energies are only going to increase. We at UoB have to be at the leading edge of this shift and leading the drive to clean energy though our research, expertise and which is extended to an array of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, waste and geothermal”.

The agreement and conference with Shanghai University follows the foot steps of the joint research contracts signed with Oxford University, Aston University and Loughborough University as UoB makes the move towards becoming a research led University.