On March 20, 2026, XSYU welcomed a delegation from University of Regina, Canada led by Dr. Jeff Keshen, President and Vice-Chancellor, and Mr. Haroon Chaudhry, Associate Vice-President. The two institutions convened cooperation talks and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony in the Second Conference Room of the Conference Center on XSYU’s Yanta Campus.Prof.Wang Jinfu, President of XSYU, attended the event, which was presided over by Professor Zhang Rongjun, Vice President of XSYU. Also in attendance were representatives from XSYU’s Academic Affairs Office, Graduate School, Office of International Cooperation and Exchange, College of Petroleum Engineering, College of Earth Sciences & Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Electronic Engineering, School of New Energy, and School of Science, as well as faculty and alumni representatives of University of Regina.
In his welcoming remarks, President Wang Jinfu extended warm greetings to the visiting delegation. He noted that China and Canada enjoy a long-standing friendship, and bilateral exchanges and cooperation in energy, education, and people-to-people ties have deepened steadily in recent years. As two institutions with distinctive strengths in petroleum-related disciplines, XSYU and University of Regina are highly complementary in talent development, scientific research, and disciplinary advancement, which boasts broad prospects for collaboration. President Wang also emphasized that the signing of the MoU heralds a new chapter in the partnership between the two universities. Against the backdrop of the global transition to greener, low-carbon, and smart energy development, President Wang shared hisexpectationsforfuturecooperation inthe followingthree aspects: First, to explore innovative educational models, jointly develop high-quality programs and distinctive courses, and further advance the internationalization of talent development; Second, to focus on frontier fields such as unconventional oil and gas development and strengthen collaborative research to tackle key technological challenges facing the energy industry; Third, to establish a regular faculty and student exchange mechanism to deepen mutual learning and nurture friendship between the two institutions. President Wang concluded by noting that the signing of the MoU laid a solid foundation for future cooperation and would help both universities advance joint initiatives in a practical and results-oriented manner.
Dr. Jeff Keshen thanked XSYU for the warm welcome and said the University of Regina places high value on the partnership and is committed to turning the agreement into concrete cooperation. He noted that the University of Regina is a multicultural institution with extensive experience in international engagement, with more than 600 partnership initiatives worldwide. He added that Saskatchewan is known for its openness and diversity and welcomed faculty and students from Xi’an Shiyou University to study and take part in exchange programs there.Hevoicedconfidencethat the MoU will serve as a new milestone in bilateral cooperation, and both institutions will leverage educational innovation to launch diverse joint talent development initiatives and achieve win-win results through two-way international engagement.
During the meeting, the head of XSYU’s Office of International Cooperation and Exchange provided an overview of the university’s international cooperation and exchange efforts, highlighting major achievements and key internationalization initiatives in recent years. The presentation also outlined three proposed areas of cooperation with the University of Regina: educational cooperation and exchange, including Sino-foreign cooperative education programs; joint scientific research; and industry-education integration.
Subsequently, representatives from XSYU’s College of Petroleum Engineering, College of Earth Sciences & Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Electronic Engineering, and School of New Energy delivered presentations on their academic programs, faculty development, research focus, key research directions, and major scientific accomplishments. Their presentations fully demonstrated XSYU’s disciplinary strengths and research capabilities, earning high recognition from the University of Regina delegation.
During the discussion session, Dr. Keshen and Mr. Chaudhry reaffirmed that the academic strengths and research focus of the five collegesinXSYU are highly aligned with those of University of Regina,whichlaysa solid foundation for future cooperation. They expressed strong confidence in the prospects for bilateral collaboration.
Following the talks, President Wang Jinfu and Dr. Jeff Keshen signed the MoU on behalf of their respective institutions, with Vice President Zhang Rongjun and Mr. Haroon Chaudhry serving as witnesses to the signing.
In his concluding remarks, PresidentWangonce againstressed that the two universities share highly aligned disciplinary systems, educational models, and institutional characteristics. The sound China-Canada friendship and Xi’an’s profound cultural heritage further consolidate the foundation for long-term cooperation. He expressed the hope that both sides will work closely to build high-level, distinctive, and sustainable educational cooperation and exchange programs, injecting new momentum into educational innovation and talent development, and writing a new chapter for China-Canada educational exchanges and civilizational mutual learning.
Following the signing ceremony, President Wang Jinfu and Vice President Zhang Rongjun accompanied the University of Regina delegation on visits to XSYU’s Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Well Measurement and Control Technology and Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Special Stimulation Technology for Oil and Gas Wells. During the visits, laboratory heads introduced the laboratories’ development, research teams, core technologies, and technology transfer efforts, which helped deepen mutual understanding and build momentum for future cooperation.
The visit and the signing of the MoU mark anessentialstep in XSYU’s efforts to expand its international engagement and strengthen ties with leading global partners in energy education. The agreement creates new opportunities for collaboration in talent development, research, and innovation in education. Building on this foundation, XSYU will work with the University of Regina to deepen cooperation in areas such as joint educational programs, collaborative research, and faculty and student exchanges,which makes full useofstrengthsinboth institutions. Through these efforts,XSYUaims to further raise its international profile and contribute to the global transition toward greener, lower-carbon energy as well as the development of internationally oriented energy professionals.
