On September 18, the 2nd "Belt and Road" Deans' Forum on Computer Science, hosted by Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU) and co-organized by Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU), the NPU School of Computer Science, and the NPU Kazakhstan Branch, was successfully held in Almaty. This forum served as a concrete measure to thoroughly implement the "Belt and Road" Initiative (BRI) and actively respond to the important instruction of "ensuring the success of the NPU Kazakhstan Branch and cultivating more successors for the cause of China-Kazakhstan friendship." The event aimed to promote in-depth cooperation and exchange in the fields of computer science and artificial intelligence among countries along the Belt and Road.
Yue Xiaokui, Vice President of NPU; Timur Imankulov, Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University; and Li Ziwei, Vice Dean of the NPU International College and Vice President of the NPU Kazakhstan Branch, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches.
The forum attracted deans, department heads, and experts from over ten prestigious universities at home and abroad, including the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), the Mongolian University of Science and Technology (MUST), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Nanjing University, and Xidian University.
Representing the NPU School of Computer Science were Li Zhanhuai, Director of the Academic Committee; Guo Bin, Vice Dean; and Cui Helei, Assistant to the Dean. Shang Xuequn, Dean of the NPU School of Computer Science, presided over the opening ceremony.
Vice President Yue Xiaokui delivered the opening remarks via video link. He stated that NPU has always regarded the development of computer science as a crucial focal point for serving national strategies and supporting national rejuvenation, placing high importance on international cooperation and interdisciplinary integration. He expressed that this forum would further propel deep cooperation in computer science and AI among BRI nations, injecting new momentum into the high-quality development of the discipline in the region.
In his address, Li Ziwei pointed out that the forum focuses on the frontiers of computer science and AI, highly aligning with the BRI spirit of "connectivity and knowledge sharing." He affirmed that the NPU Kazakhstan Branch will continue to root itself in Kazakhstan, dedicate itself to cultivating high-level innovative talent, and continuously deepen higher education cooperation between China and Kazakhstan at the strategic convergence point of "AI+."
Timur Imankulov delivered a speech on behalf of Margulan Ibraimov, Vice Rector of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. He noted that AI technology is profoundly reshaping the global industrial landscape and educational ecosystem, creating vast space for cooperation and development needs in the information science sector among BRI countries. Looking ahead, the two universities and their respective schools will continue to deepen cooperation in discipline construction, faculty exchange, and student mobility, working together to create a model for China-Kazakhstan higher education cooperation and contributing to educational connectivity along the Belt and Road.
Shang Xuequn introduced that this year's forum marks the first time the event has been held outside of China. Themed "The Development of Computer Science in the AI Era," the forum aims to uphold its original mission, further build an internationally influential platform for computer science exchange, and strengthen mutual learning in discipline construction, research cooperation, and joint talent cultivation among BRI countries.
The forum featured keynote reports and roundtable discussions. Renowned scholars shared their insights on cutting-edge topics such as the expansion and innovation of computer and AI integration education programs, teaching and learning computer science in the AI era, and the educational Metaverse. Speakers included Timur Imankulov (Dean, Faculty of Information Technology, KazNU), Khuder Altangerel (Head of Computer Science, MUST), Zhou Xiaofang (Head of Computer Science and Engineering, HKUST), Xu Jianliang (Head of Computer Science, HKBU), Li Qing (Head of Computing, PolyU), Jeffrey Yu (Professor, Information Hub, HKUST-GZ), Madina Mansurova (Head of AI and Big Data, KazNU), Wu Fan (Head of Computer Science and Engineering, SJTU), Ma Xiaoxing (Dean of Computer Science, NJU), and Cui Jiangtao (Executive Dean of Computer Science and Technology, Xidian University).Participating experts also engaged in in-depth discussions on topics such as constructing the core of computer science disciplines in the AI era, Generative AI empowering computer education, regional technological synergy, and "AI+X" interdisciplinary challenges.
The successful holding of this forum has established a normalized mechanism for cooperation in computer science along the Belt and Road. In the future, all parties will continue to deepen joint talent cultivation, research collaboration, and faculty exchange to collectively drive the high-quality development of regional computer science disciplines.
The "Belt and Road" Deans' Forum on Computer Science was initiated by the NPU School of Computer Science in 2023, with the inaugural forum successfully held in Xi'an. It has gradually become an important platform for exchange, mutual learning, and collaborative development for computer science disciplines in universities across BRI countries.
To express gratitude for the strong support from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Shang Xuequn, on behalf of the NPU School of Computer Science, presented a commemorative "He Zun" (a ritual bronze vessel) to Timur Imankulov. She expressed hope that both sides would use this forum as a bond to further deepen exchanges and cooperation, jointly injecting strong digital momentum into the building of a China-Kazakhstan community with a shared future.
