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Beijing University of Agriculture (BUA) recently hosted an "AI+ Curriculum and Applications" Smart Teaching Professional Development Program for Higher Education for a delegation from The State University Santa Elena Peninsula in Ecuador.  The Program marked BUA's first in-person training Program in China for a visiting delegation from an overseas university. Held from August 24 to 28, the five-day Program brought together 24 Ecuadorian faculty members for a series of specialized training sessions. Upon completion of the Program, participants received certificates of completion. The Program marks a new milestone in BUA's international engagement and represents a significant step forward in the University's delivery of in-person training Programs for overseas institutions in China. It also forms part of BUA's efforts to advance the BUA Global Strategic Partnership Program and deepen educational cooperation between China and Latin America.

At the opening ceremony, Wu Yan, Vice President of BUA, and Maritza Gisela Paula Chica, Vice President of The State University Santa Elena Peninsula, delivered remarks. Representatives of the two universities also held in-depth discussions on international educational cooperation and the application of artificial intelligence across different sectors. The Program featured four key components: specialized academic training, on-campus study visits, institutional discussions on future collaboration, and presentations on participants' learning outcomes.

During the academic sessions, participants explored topics including digital teaching and faculty capacity building. The delegation also visited a range of BUA facilities, including the national demonstration centers for experimental teaching, the smart multi-span greenhouse, the National Forestry and Grassland Ancient Tree Health and Ancient Tree Culture Engineering Technology Research Center, the Guide Dog Training Base, the National University Science Park, laboratories at the Food Science and Engineering College, and the Smart Agriculture Phenotyping Center. The visits offered participants an immersive look at the University's achievements in disciplinary development and its efforts to integrate industry, academia, research, and innovation. The Program also provided opportunities for substantive discussions between the Ecuadorian delegation and several BUA schools and administrative departments. The two sides explored potential cooperation in areas including faculty and student exchanges and joint research. During the final learning outcomes session, four faculty representatives shared their reflections on the Program and the knowledge and insights they had gained.

At the closing ceremony, all participants were presented with certificates of completion. Members of the Ecuadorian delegation expressed their sincere appreciation for the University's thoughtful and well-organized arrangements and voiced their hope that the Program would serve as a starting point for deeper cooperation between the two institutions in talent development, research, and innovation.

The Program has opened new opportunities for BUA to expand its educational engagement with Latin America. Looking ahead, the University will continue to advance its Global Strategic Partnership Program, build on the outcomes of its international exchanges, expand its global network of partners, and promote greater mutual learning and exchange between China and Latin America in the field of education.