Iraq’s “Pioneers of Excellence” Study-in-China Program Officially Launched
Sunmaker Provides Professional Support, Ushering in a New Era of China-Iraq Energy Talent Cooperation
On April 19, 2026, the opening ceremony of Iraq’s “Pioneers of Excellence” Study-in-China Program was held at China University of Petroleum (East China). As the executor of this program, Sunmaker Energy Services Co., Ltd. provides full-spectrum study support services for 62 outstanding Iraqi students, ensuring a smooth four-year undergraduate journey in China.
The “Pioneers of Excellence” study-in-China program is funded by oilfield equity partners represented by CNPC (Iraq) West Qurna Company and CNPC (Iraq) Halfaya Company, and is led and implemented by CNPC West Qurna Company and Halfaya Company. The program marks a significant shift in China-Iraq energy cooperation—moving beyond traditional resource development toward deeper collaboration in talent cultivation, technical exchange, and capacity building. As such, it not only represents an extension of bilateral energy ties but also serves as a vivid example of people-to-people bonds and cultural exchange under the Belt and Road Initiative.
This group of students comprises outstanding young talents jointly selected by Iraq’s Ministries of Oil and Education. They are also the first cohort sponsored by the Iraqi government under the Training, Technology Transfer, and Scholarship Fund to pursue their studies in China, carrying forward an important national mission for Iraq’s energy talent strategy. Over the next four years, they will pursue bachelor’s degrees in Petroleum Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Geology at China University of Petroleum (East China) and China University of Petroleum (Beijing). Upon graduation, they are expected to contribute significantly to the development of Iraq’s petroleum industry.
As the program executor, Sunmaker Energy Services has leveraged its expertise in international education and training as well as energy talent development to provide comprehensive study support services for the 62 Iraqi students. These services cover academic coordination, daily life assistance, cultural adaptation, administrative support, and routine affairs management. Drawing on its extensive project execution experience accumulated over the years in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, along with its established cooperation network with multiple internationally renowned universities, Sunmaker ensures that each student can quickly adapt to life in China and focus on their academic growth. From pre-departure preparations, airport pickup, and enrollment registration to dormitory settlement, academic progress tracking, and day-to-day management, Sunmaker’s dedicated student support team provides end-to-end, meticulous services, building a smooth communication bridge between the Iraqi students and Chinese universities.
Sunmaker has established long-term, stable partnerships with top Chinese universities, including China University of Petroleum (Beijing) and China University of Petroleum (East China), and holds official authorization to run international student programs. It also maintains strong cooperative ties with many other universities, demonstrating a robust capacity for integrating international education resources and executing projects. While deeply engaged in the study-in-China market, Sunmaker is actively expanding its global footprint in international education. It has launched international student programs in collaboration with world-renowned institutions such as Newcastle University, the University of Aberdeen, and the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom. Through foundation courses, academic pathway programs, and a full-cycle study abroad service system, Sunmaker builds bridges for international students to access leading global universities—fully showcasing its ability to integrate resources worldwide and deliver high-quality international education projects.
