Now, in her sixth semester, Si is studying at Khalifa University in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a government-sponsored exchange student. In the seventh and eighth semesters, she will return to Beijing to CUP, where she will complete the remainder of her studies.

In this joint bachelor's degree program, students major in Petroleum Engineering and Arabic language over four years of undergraduate study—respectively flagship disciplines at CUP and BLCU. The two universities can both admit students into the joint program, which aims to nurture petroleum engineers proficient in Arabic.

When disciplines cross 

Launched in 2023, the program attracted 26 other students who, like Si, were willing to be part of its inaugural cohort.

Coming from a family that has worked in petroleum engineering for generations, Si has long felt a natural affinity for the field. A trip to the UAE deepened that connection, as she fell in love with the local culture and language. By bringing together the two passions she holds, the joint training program became, for her, nothing short of the perfect choice. Her classmate Gao Yuhan shares the same sense of a "perfect fit," though for different reasons. A science student with a strong aptitude for languages and a passion for international communication, Gao was instantly drawn to the program when he came across it. However, mastering two majors within the time traditionally devoted to one is no easy feat.

"The pace of study is extremely demanding," Gao told Beijing Review. "Compared with traditional language majors, the joint program has a much more intensive curriculum. In one semester, for instance, our schedule was completely full except for Friday afternoons."

He added that their program may include fewer courses than a standalone Petroleum Engineering or Arabic major, like thermodynamics and engineering drawing, or Arabic news, but all core courses from both disciplines are fully retained.

"Within this curriculum structure, I feel that my perspective has broadened. Through an understanding of how Arab culture views honor, religion and time, I am able to reexamine the social logic behind Middle Eastern energy policies, rather than looking at them solely through economic or technical lenses," Si told Beijing Review. During her study at UAE, she also noticed that many international engineering students struggled to integrate because they did not speak Arabic—an obstacle she herself did not face.

Studying at two universities in China also means relocating dormitories every other year. It's a tiring process, but being able to deeply experience the distinct campus cultures of two universities is, for Gao, a rare privilege. "BLCU hosts international students from all over the world, creating an environment that is international, inclusive and rich in culture and humanistic spirit. CUP, by contrast, is rigorous and pragmatic, with a strong research-driven environment. This experience allowed me to develop the rational mindset of an engineering student while also cultivating the sensitivity of the humanities," he explained.

"Besides," he added, "we have more opportunities to make friends and participate in activities and open lectures."

A meeting of minds 

"Common challenges facing undergraduate foreign-language programs include the dominance of traditional lecture-based instruction and a lack of innovative teaching approaches such as case-based teaching and project-based learning," Luo Lin, Dean of the Institute of International and Regional Studies and the School of Foreign Languages at BLCU, told Beijing Review. "Plus, as a university with a strong focus on language studies, BLCU has encountered both challenges and opportunities in disciplinary development amid the growing prevalence of AI in recent years. Although AI and real-time translation tools are still unable to replace high-end human translation and advanced language communication, it must be acknowledged that their impact is quite substantial for language majors that emphasize instrumental or applied use. Curriculum provision therefore needs to adapt to this trend," he added.

Ongoing social transformations have likewise presented challenges to CUP's curriculum development for the Petroleum Engineering discipline. According to Zhang Yongxue, Director of the Office of Academic Affairs at CUP, Arab countries have maintained long-term cooperation with China in the petroleum industry, and they are partners of the Belt and Road Initiative, a China-proposed initiative to boost connectivity along and beyond the ancient Silk Road routes. "Therefore, it is ideal that the students we cultivate possess professional expertise and strong communication abilities, thereby promoting strategic cooperation between China and Middle Eastern countries in the energy sector."

Building on the practical experience gained from the "Petroleum Engineering + Arabic" program, the two institutions jointly launched a "Resource Exploration Engineering + Russian" program in 2024. BLCU also collaborates with three other universities, including the University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing Forestry University and Beijing University of Chemical Technology, offering interdisciplinary, inter-university bachelor's degree programs like "Mining Engineering + Spanish," "Wood Science and Engineering + German" and "Chemical Engineering and Technology + French."

"These programs have been developed in response to national economic and social development needs and are guided by the goal of serving national strategies. Through optimizing disciplinary and program structures, forging high-level partnerships and integrating high-quality resources from participating institutions, these initiatives represent continued exploration into the interdisciplinary integration of foreign language studies and engineering disciplines," Luo said.

In recent years, educational models that link institutional resources have gained increasing traction across China as part of broader higher-education reform efforts. For example, the China University of Political Science and Law and Beijing Foreign Studies University have jointly launched a "Law + English" program aimed at cultivating high-level professionals in international legal affairs. Meanwhile, the Beijing Institute of Technology and China Agricultural University have explored a "Biotechnology + Biological Sciences" joint bachelor's degree program, marking a new attempt at collaborative talent cultivation between engineering and biological sciences. 

These inter-university programs have emerged as an innovative policy response to the growing demand for more flexible and diversified talent-development pathways. By deeply integrating the disciplinary strengths, these programs transcend the physical and administrative boundaries of single-campus education, generating a synergistic training effect, which aligns higher-education development more closely with national priorities and long-term workforce needs.

(Print Edition Title: The Next Degree) 

Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon 

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