#China #Shanghai #Belt and Road #Shanghai Electric #Sino-Pakistan

Shanghai Electric Establishes the Sino-Pakistan Academy

On November 24, 2025, Shanghai Electric officially inaugurated the Sino-Pakistan Academy of Excellence for Engineers, a significant step in the collaborative effort to nurture engineering talent corresponding to the Belt and Road Initiative. The Academy, designed to bolster interdisciplinary education and technological exchange between China and Pakistan, aims to prepare skilled engineers equipped to compete in a global market.

The opening ceremony for this Academy was notable for its hybrid format, allowing participants from both countries to join online and in-person. Key representatives from the Thar Block-I project—a coal mine and power plant initiative—and the Shanghai Dianji University signed a cooperation agreement concerning the first phase of the training program, marking the initiative's formal commencement.

Zhu Zhaokai, President of Shanghai Electric Group, emphasized the necessity of nurturing versatile talent amidst the evolving global industrial landscape. He remarked, “Creating the Academy stands as a pivotal initiative for Shanghai Electric to facilitate the deep integration of industry and academia, along with the establishment of an international talent development system.” Utilizing the research capabilities of Shanghai Dianji University, the Academy aims to enhance joint research, hands-on training, and faculty exchange, working collaboratively to develop a new model of international talent cultivation under the Belt and Road framework.

Gong Siyi, President of Shanghai Dianji University, claimed that the Academy stands as a priority project, striving to embody a key offshore demonstration for high educational standards. The institution seeks to amalgamate top-notch educational resources, setting high benchmarks in talent development systems and instructional quality, thereby cultivating a vital bridge between China and Pakistan in terms of technological cooperation and friendship.

As the inaugural international engineering training program under corporate leadership facilitated by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the Academy will provide tailored master's programs designed to meet the specific needs of the Thar Project, focusing chiefly on energy and electrical engineering disciplines. By combining mentorship from professors and industry experts, the Academy's curriculum aims to equip participants with the necessary skills to tackle real-world challenges through the infusion of theoretical knowledge and practical experience.

Recently, Shanghai Electric has prioritized systematic talent development and strategic planning for establishing the Academy, further enhancing collaboration between industry and academia to foster an innovative ecosystem oriented towards globalization and advanced technology integration. As a collaborative platform for talent development, the Shanghai Academy has concentrated on empowering technology experts and nurturing high-caliber professionals since its inception in 2024. Hence, it aspires to establish a robust pipeline of future technological leaders.

The Tech Expert Symposium, the first flagship initiative of the Academy, functions as a premier forum for leading experts and scholars, facilitating knowledge exchange, technical cooperation, and talent cultivation. Since its inception, five sessions have been held, concentrating on emerging technology trends and practical engineering concepts.

The ongoing active talent development strategy at Shanghai Electric reflects its unwavering commitment to technological advancement and human capital development amidst a rapidly transforming era. In the first half of 2025 alone, the company invested an impressive 2.546 billion CNY in R&D, representing a year-over-year increase of 9.4%, and accounting for 4.7% of its total revenue. Additionally, 39.5% of this funding was directed towards developing emerging sectors.

To sustain accelerated innovation, Shanghai Electric positions talent as its foremost strategic asset, reforming its development system to cultivate a resilient and well-structured team. For further details, please visit their official website at Shanghai Electric.