School of Computer Science of Northwestern Polytechnical University Holds Unveiling Ceremony for Joint Intelligent Computing Laboratory and 2026 Freshmen Meet-and-Greet in Kazakhstan
Figure 1. The 2026 Opening Ceremony of the Kazakhstan Branch Campus of NPU.
On October 19, the opening ceremony for the 2026 intake of the Kazakhstan Branch Campus of Northwestern Polytechnical University was held at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. Shang Xuequn, Dean of the School of Computer Science, Cui Helei, Assistant Dean, and Zhang Xiao, faculty representative of the School of Computer Science, attended relevant events. During the ceremony, the NPU-SI-TECH Joint Intelligent Computing Laboratory (Kazakhstan), jointly initiated by the School of Computer Science of Northwestern Polytechnical University and Beijing SI-TECH Information Technology Co., Ltd., was officially unveiled. In the afternoon of the same day, the School of Computer Science hosted a meet-and-greet for 2026 freshmen majoring in Computer Science, where participants exchanged views on discipline development, cutting-edge AI technologies and their industrial applications.
University-Enterprise Collaborative Construction: Joint Intelligent Computing Laboratory Officially Unveiled
On the morning of October 19, the opening ceremony for the 2026 intake of the Kazakhstan Branch Campus of Northwestern Polytechnical University took place in the auditorium of the School of Chemical Engineering at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. Su Fangqiu, Consul-General of the People's Republic of China in Almaty, Alina Kurbayevna, Vice-Rector of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Li Ziwei, Vice-President of the Kazakhstan Branch Campus of Northwestern Polytechnical University, as well as university and enterprise representatives from China and Kazakhstan were present. The unveiling ceremony for the NPU-SI-TECH Joint Intelligent Computing Laboratory was held amid the opening ceremony.
Shang Xuequn, Li Ziwei, Zang Hui, Rotating CEO of Beijing SI-TECH Information Technology Co., Ltd., and Zhang Meihang, Rotating CEO and Director of Human Resources, jointly unveiled the plaque, witnessing new progress in building this university-enterprise collaborative talent-training platform.
Figure 2. The unveiling ceremony of the NPU-SI-TECH Joint Intelligent Computing Laboratory (Kazakhstan).
Co-developed by the School of Computer Science of Northwestern Polytechnical University and Beijing SI-TECH Information Technology Co., Ltd., the joint laboratory integrates the school's strengths in scientific research and talent cultivation with the enterprise's practical expertise in artificial intelligence, software development and digital technologies. It aims to create conditions for students of the Kazakhstan Branch Campus to learn intelligent computing technologies, conduct innovative practice and pursue scientific research exploration.
To facilitate the laboratory launch, relevant equipment had previously been shipped from Beijing to Almaty. SI-TECH engineers completed installation and commissioning via on-site support and remote collaboration. The laboratory will gradually be put into teaching and practical use, supporting students at the branch campus in AI application development and technical training.
Following the unveiling ceremony, Zang Hui, Rotating CEO of SI-TECH, delivered a speech on behalf of the enterprise. He stated that the joint laboratory represents not only a key achievement of bilateral cooperation but also a platform for translating innovative ideas into practical applications. Going forward, SI-TECH will leverage its technical advantages in artificial intelligence, big data and software platforms, and closely align with university research capabilities and talent resources. It will explore joint innovation and practical teaching, promote the matching of research outcomes with real-world demands, and contribute to Sino-Kazakh digital-technology exchanges and youth talent development.
Focusing on Discipline Development and AI Frontiers: 2026 Freshmen Meet-and-Greet Held
In the afternoon of the same day, the meet-and-greet for 2026 computer-science freshmen of the Kazakhstan Branch Campus of Northwestern Polytechnical University was successfully convened, presided over by Cui Helei, Assistant Dean of the School of Computer Science.
Shang Xuequn extended a warm welcome to the 2026 freshmen and expressed gratitude to partner universities and enterprises for their long-term support for branch-campus development and talent training. Taking account of learning characteristics in the AI era, she encouraged students to maintain curiosity and critical thinking, make good use of new technologies for learning, and enhance innovation competence through hands-on exploration. She also urged them to cherish cross-cultural exchange opportunities, foster mutual understanding and friendship, and inject youthful momentum into Sino-Kazakh scientific, technological and educational cooperation.
Figure 3. Shang Xuequn, Dean of the School of Computer Science, addresses the 2026 freshmen.
In the special report session, Cui Helei reviewed discipline development and research directions of the School of Computer Science. He presented its progress in talent training, scientific research and international cooperation, showcased research outputs in intelligent computing, computer vision, big-data analytics and other fields, and introduced signature programmes including the international summer camp. Professor Zhang Xiao gave an academic report entitled How to Make AI Better. Centering on large language models, model optimization, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and AI Agents, he outlined development trends and practical applications of artificial intelligence. Zhao Yuan, Product Director of Beijing SI-TECH Information Technology Co., Ltd., delivered an enterprise-technology report titled From Zero to Agent: SI-TECH Technology Workshop. He shared the enterprise's technical accumulation in artificial intelligence, software platforms and digital solutions, and demonstrated the intelligent-agent development platform alongside its typical industrial use cases. The three presentations, respectively covering discipline building, academic frontiers and industrial practice, helped freshmen grasp professional development directions, broaden academic horizons and understand real-world deployment of AI technologies.
Figure 4. Thematic talks on discipline development, academic frontiers and industrial practice.
The meeting also featured a video introducing the UNYBAN robot donated by Shanghai UNYBAN Digital Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd. and its product features. Undergraduate freshman representative Nurzhan Nurasyl and postgraduate freshman representative Alina Abilmazhitova each delivered speeches, sharing their expectations for university study and campus life.
Figure 5. Student representatives Nurzhan Nurasyl and Alina Abilmazhitova speak at the meeting.
After the meeting, teachers and students toured the NPU-SI-TECH Joint Intelligent Computing Laboratory (Kazakhstan) and experienced interactive demonstrations of the UNYBAN robot to gain first-hand insight into real-world AI applications. During the visit, participants viewed the SI-TECH Jiusi Intelligent Computing Training-and-Inference Integrated Machine. SI-TECH technical specialists explained hardware specifications, commissioning approaches for campus network-access servers, as well as developer platforms, knowledge bases, Nineswork and other AI tools accessible upon device activation. These resources underpin AI-focused learning and hands-on practice for faculty and students.
Deepening International Cooperation and Expanding Pathways for Industry-Education Integrated Talent Training
The unveiling of the Joint Intelligent Computing Laboratory and the 2026 computer-science freshmen meet-and-greet embody concrete efforts by the School of Computer Science of Northwestern Polytechnical University to participate in the development of the Kazakhstan Branch Campus, deepen Sino-Kazakh educational exchanges, and advance university-enterprise collaborative talent cultivation.
Moving forward, the School of Computer Science will continue to leverage its strengths in disciplinary research and talent training, strengthen coordination with partner universities and enterprises. Relying on platforms such as the joint laboratory, it will advance the organic integration of teaching resources, cutting-edge technologies and industrial practice, continuously explore new pathways for international talent development, and contribute to high-quality growth of the Kazakhstan Branch Campus as well as Sino-Kazakh scientific, technological and educational cooperation.
Figure 6. Teachers and students at the Kazakhstan Branch Campus of NPU.
审核：郭斌
