By Meng Fanrong

CHANGCHUN, Jul. 8, (China Economic Net)- A 20-year-old Pakistani student has been recognized for academic excellence in China, receiving a "Progress Star" award for outstanding preparatory overseas students at Northeast Normal University (NENU) for the second semester of the 2025-2026 academic year.

International students, including Sanaullah (second from right), are honored at an awards presentation hosted by the NENU Preparatory School for Overseas Students, photo provided to CEN

Sanaullah, a native of Musakhel district in Balochistan, was honored by the university’s preparatory school for overseas students on July 1 for his hardworking performance and dedication during his Chinese language studies at NENU from September 2025 to July 2026. NENU is the first institution in Northeast China authorized to administer the national HSK and among the first to offer the Business Chinese Test. Sanaullah has already passed HSK4, demonstrating his readiness for academic studies in Chinese.

“Our curriculum is comprehensive, improving all skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing,” Sanaullah said of his learning experience. Beyond the classroom, the university has built an immersive learning environment that integrates calligraphy competitions, recitation contests, singing competitions, traditional Chinese cultural experiences and visits to historical sites. He noted that these activities helped him apply Chinese in practice and deepened his interest in the language, as well as his understanding and appreciation of China.

He will begin his undergraduate studies in Computer Science at Harbin Engineering University (HEU), which is renowned for its strengths in marine engineering and computer science, this September.

“I want to work for space missions in the future,” Sanaullah said, explaining his choice of computer science as his major. His special fields of interest are machine learning, robotics, and cybersecurity. With countries around the world, including Pakistan, rapidly advancing digitalization, he sees immense potential for youth from Balochistan and other underserved regions to contribute to this transformation.