University students at the international summer school at the China University of Petroleum (Beijing)

From June 25 to July 5, 2025, the WEUN summer school "Future Leaders in Energy" was held at the China University of Petroleum (Beijing). Maxim Ilyukhin and Denis Petrov, master's students of the ASM-24-04 group of the Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas (National Research University), took part in the school. Participation in the program was a significant step in the development of academic and cultural interaction between the world's leading energy universities.

The school was held under the auspices of the "World Energy Universities Network (WEUN)", which currently includes 32 universities from different countries of the world and which is an alliance of research universities united by a common strategic interest in research, innovation, education and internationalization in the field of energy. Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas (National Research University) Gubkin University has been a member since its foundation in 2018. China University of Petroleum (Beijing) is the chairman of the association.

In 2025, 35 students from 14 countries took part in the summer school, including Russia, China, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Portugal, France, Moldova, Nigeria, Vietnam, Malaysia, Iran, Scotland, India and Brazil.

The summer school program included a rich set of events:
1. Academic lectures from leading professors in the field of energy transition, renewable energy sources and the application of artificial intelligence in energy. The participants were especially interested in the academic lectures:
– "Artificial Intelligence and its Application in Energy", given by Professor Zhangxing (John) Chen of the University of Calgary (Canada);
– “Current Status and Development Prospects of Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) Technologies,” presented by Professor Zhenhua Rui, Head of the UNESCO Chair in Green Transition, Carbon Neutrality and Climate Change.
2. Cultural activities: master classes in Chinese calligraphy, paper cutting, wushu, as well as excursions to the Forbidden City, the Ming Tombs, the Great Wall of China and other attractions.
3. Technical visits to advanced sites:
– Daxing Hydrogen Energy Park, which is an important base for China’s advanced technology and industrial development in the field of hydrogen energy. It is home to numerous enterprises, research institutions and innovative technology platforms related to hydrogen energy, forming a full cycle of hydrogen production. This park aims to promote the research, development, implementation and commercialization of hydrogen technologies, showcasing China’s latest achievements and future development directions in the field of clean energy;
– Xiaomi Smart Factory. The Xiaomi Automobile Plant is located in the Beijing Economic and Technological Zone, covering an area of 718,000 square meters, equivalent to the size of a hundred football fields, and has a total length of 2.5 kilometers of test tracks. It is an intelligent manufacturing complex integrating R&D, production, sales, and operation experience. Here, everyone can personally experience the impact of high-tech factories, see how efficiently modern automated production systems work, and feel the charm of smart manufacturing.
– iFLYTEK headquarters is one of the leading players in the field of artificial intelligence both in China and internationally. Its technologies are widely applied in various industries such as education, healthcare, intelligent customer service, and smart homes, with seven key capabilities surpassing those of GPT-4 Turbo.

As part of the school, Gubkin University students took part in team and cross-cultural events, actively interacted with participants from different countries, and shared experiences and ideas. They not only expanded their professional knowledge in the field of artificial intelligence and sustainable energy, but also strengthened international ties, presenting Russia and Gubkin University as active participants in the global dialogue on sustainable development and energy innovation.

Director of the International Department of the China University of Petroleum (Beijing) Ms. Yang Wei spoke at the closing ceremonies of the summer school, noting the importance of international dialogue and training a new generation of energy leaders.

The Future Energy Leaders Summer School, organized by the World Energy Universities Network (WEUN) at the China University of Petroleum (Beijing), served as a significant stage in strengthening international cooperation and academic partnerships among the world's leading universities. Gubkin University demonstrated its commitment to the development of scientific research and innovative educational projects in the field of clean energy and will continue to actively participate in joint programs of WEUN, contributing to the advancement of sustainable development and expanding the horizons of scientific and technological progress in the field of energy security and environmental friendliness.