MUSCAT: Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) welcomed a delegation from the China Association of Higher Education (CAHE) on Tuesday, led by Prof Li Jiajun, Vice-President of the Association.
The delegation was received by Prof Salim bin Hamoud al Harthy, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Community Service, at the University Council Hall, in the presence of several academics.
During the meeting, the Chinese delegation outlined the Association’s mission and areas of work.
Established in Beijing in 1983, CAHE is a national, non-profit academic organisation supervised by China’s Ministry of Education. It unites universities, research institutions and educational experts across the country, playing a pivotal role in shaping education policies and advancing academic development.
CAHE’s key initiatives include fostering educational innovation, enhancing the quality of higher education, conducting policy-oriented research, and organising academic conferences and exhibitions. The Association also publishes specialist journals and acts as a bridge between the Chinese government and higher education institutions.
Focusing on areas such as digital transformation and the future of education, CAHE maintains strong international ties, particularly with Arab and African nations. Within the China–Arab alliance, collaboration emphasises fields such as aerospace, information and communications technology, and investment, fostering innovation and knowledge exchange. The delegation also underscored the significance of the Higher Education Expo China as a platform for global academic cooperation.
Prof Al Harthy presented an overview of SQU’s colleges, research centres and international initiatives, including the Afaaq programme for international students. He stressed that technology integration and student skill enhancement — particularly in Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity and quantum computing — are central to SQU’s vision for future partnerships.
Both sides expressed a mutual commitment to strengthening collaboration in research, innovation and higher education development.
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