Aramco Asia Cup boosts sci-tech innovation, environmental responsibility

Aramco Asia executives, Xiamen University faculties joined contestants for a group photo after the competition ended on November 26.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The well-implemented competition aimed to promote environmental protection and greener future among the college students. The organizers, Aramco Asia and Xiamen University, also wanted to the event to be a driver for environmental responsibility, sci-tech innovation and sustainability.

It contributed to Saudi Aramco framework of corporate social responsibility in region where the company had a presence, and supported the fulfillment of CSR pillars of knowledge society and environment.

Six teams entered the final round, emerging from among 69 candidates from the 18 Schools of Xiamen University. They showcased the results of their environmental investigations and research through presentations, software or prototype products of their own creation.

You Jiabin and his team from the Energy School of Xiamen University, won the social practice group of the championship with their project “Innovative Research on Distributed Off-grid Power Generation Systems in Islands”.

Xu Zijie’s team from the university’s School of Physical Science and Technology took the crown of the technology group with their submission of “Industrialization of Large Flexible Transparent Conductive Film and its Application”.

The competition raised awareness of social responsibility among students and encouraged them to take action to address major environmental problems, according to Nabil A. Al-Nuaim, president and CEO of Aramco Asia.

Zhang Rong, President of Xiamen University and Nabil A. Al-Nuaim, president and CEO of Aramco Asia, held a talk on further long-term cooperation.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

He added the event also helped to enhance links between the company and Chinese universities.

Since 1998, Aramco has been sponsoring over 100 Saudi Arabian students to study in China. Among them, 21 have graduated from Xiamen University and 6 are still enrolled. During the competition, Zhang Rong, president of Xiamen University, and Al-Nuaim discussed long-term cooperation.

Zhang Jianlin, assistant president of Xiamen University, said, “The construction of ecological civilization plays an important role in the sustainable development of China. To realize that goal, we need to figure out how to make use of new energy and protect the environment well.”

He added the university will further promote low-carbon lifestyles and green development across the whole society, and will help develop solutions to energy and environmental protection issues.

Zhou Li, editorial board member of China Daily, the media partner of the event, and publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily Asia Pacific, said technological innovation among students is of great importance since much world-class corporate creativity is generated from universities.

President and CEO of Aramco Asia Nabil A. Al-Nuaim and Assistant President of Xiamen University Zhang Jianlin, presented the awards to the winners.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]