On May 22, a delegation of four from our university, led by Professor Gao Xiaoyan, Dean of the School of Information Engineering, and Professor Li Wenye, Vice Dean of the School of International Education, visited Pingdingshan University in Henan Province for a special research trip on Sino-foreign cooperative education. The research focused on deepening and expanding the cooperative project with the University of Malaga in Spain. Both sides engaged in in-depth discussions on key topics such as the introduction of high-quality educational resources, teaching and research collaboration, and cross-border talent cultivation, building a new bridge for cooperation in international education.
During the symposium, Professor Fan Aiwan, Dean of the Malaga Engineering College at Pingdingshan University, provided a detailed introduction to the operational model of their cooperative education institution with the University of Malaga. As the first undergraduate-level Sino-Spanish cooperative institution in Henan Province, the college offers five engineering programs: Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Automation, Electronic Information Engineering, Communication Engineering, and Internet of Things Engineering. Adopting a "4+0" training model, it integrates high-quality Spanish curricula and employs a joint Sino-foreign teaching team. To date, the college has cultivated over 500 students, with an overseas study rate of 15%.
In response to our university’s key concerns—such as the innovative integration of Chinese and foreign teaching resources, enhancing faculty internationalization, and promoting students’ holistic development—Pingdingshan University shared its "introduction-integration-production" curriculum optimization system and a "tiered teaching + immersive practice" pedagogical model. Additionally, through its "Study Abroad Service Center," the university provides students with comprehensive guidance, covering language test preparation, visa applications, and overseas arrival assistance. Over the past three years, more than 70 students have been supported in studying, interning, or working in Spain.
The research team conducted an on-site visit to the Malaga Engineering College’s academic facilities, with a focus on bilingual laboratories, Spanish corners, and the international student service center. In the lab, both sides exchanged views on "practical course articulation in Sino-foreign cooperative programs," with Pingdingshan University showcasing its "online guidance by Spanish professors + on-site training by local engineers" model, which drew significant interest. At the student activity center, exhibits such as award-winning works from the "Spanish Technology Innovation Competition" and "Sino-Western Cultural Comparison Poster Exhibition" visually demonstrated the integration achievements of the cooperative program.
Through this research, the two universities reached multiple consensus points:
1. Establishing a regular exchange mechanism, including periodic visits by administrative staff and joint faculty training programs.
2. Sharing Spanish educational resources, co-developing online Spanish courses, and organizing cross-border academic forums.
3. Exploring a "domestic study + overseas research" dual-track training model to optimize Sino-foreign cooperative education programs.
Professor Gao Xiaoyan remarked that Pingdingshan University’s mature experience in Sino-foreign cooperative education offers valuable insights for our university. The next steps will focus on optimizing the Spanish language curriculum, piloting a "language + major" dual-mentorship system, and enhancing students’ global perspectives through events like the "Spanish Study Abroad Promotion Month." She expressed hope that this research trip would serve as a catalyst for deeper collaboration in teaching, research, and international faculty sharing.
This research marks a new milestone in our university’s exploration of Sino-foreign cooperative education. Moving forward, the university will continue to integrate high-quality domestic and international educational resources, developing a distinctive model for cultivating globally competitive talent and opening broader pathways for student growth and success.
