Spanish Division: Strengthening Global Engagements through Language, Dialogue and Innovation

The year 2025 marked a significant milestone in the external engagement strategy of the Spanish Division at the Modern Languages Centre (MLC). Through a carefully coordinated series of international partnerships, high-profile academic events, strategic visits, and institutional collaborations, the Division consolidated its role as a key driver of internationalisation, cultural engagement, and pedagogical innovation within the University. Collectively, these initiatives not only strengthened the global reach of the Spanish Division but also contributed meaningfully to XJTLU’s broader mission of fostering international cooperation, interdisciplinary dialogue, and educational excellence.

Building on this momentum, April 2025 saw the organisation of one of the University’s flagship external engagement events of the year: “Towards a Shared Future: Latin America–China Dialogue”. Co-hosted with Fundación Diálogos Estratégicos, the event brought together over 200 participants, including representatives from Latin American diplomatic missions, international business leaders, scholars, and members of the XJTLU community. The dialogue addressed key themes such as cultural exchange, economic cooperation, multilingual communication, and the strategic role of higher education in strengthening China–Latin America relations. The event not only elevated the international profile of the Spanish Division and the Global Cultures and Laguages Hub (GCLH), but also demonstrated XJTLU’s capacity to act as a convening platform for high-level, cross-regional dialogue that bridges academia, diplomacy, and industry.

In May 2025, the Spanish Division further expanded its European partnerships through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with CLIC Centro de Lenguas e Intercambio Cultural (International House), with campuses in Seville, Cádiz, and Málaga. This agreement established a framework for academic and cultural collaboration in areas such as short-term training programmes, student exchanges, teacher development, and the sharing of pedagogical resources. The partnership strengthened the connections with reputable language education institutions in Spain and created new pathways for immersive learning experiences, reinforcing SPA’s commitment to authentic, practice-oriented language education.

The Division’s international outreach continued in November 2025 with an academic visit to Singapore, which combined sector engagement and institutional partnership development. Participation in EDUtech Asia 2025 enabled the delegation to engage with global leaders in educational technology and digital innovation, gaining insights into emerging trends relevant to language education and transnational learning. This was complemented by academic visits to the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Discussions with NTU resulted in the advancement towards the signing of a cooperation agreement, signalling strong mutual interest in future collaboration in areas such as language education, intercultural studies, and innovative teaching practices. Collectively, these engagements reinforced XJTLU’s visibility in Southeast Asia and underscored the Spanish Division’s role in supporting the University’s strategic presence in the region.

November 2025 also brought notable recognition of the Spanish Division’s standing at national and diplomatic levels. Two members of the Division were invited to attend the official reception hosted by Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain in Beijing, held in the context of the State Visit to China. During the event, the delegation had the chance to converse for a few minutes with the Spanish monarch Felipe VI about the excellent moment and prospects for the Spanish in China. The invitation acknowledged SPA as one of the most representative and influential university-based Spanish language units in China. This recognition reflected the sustained contribution of the Division to the promotion of Spanish language and culture, as well as its role in fostering educational and cultural ties between China and the Spanish-speaking world.

During the same period, the Spanish Division took a further strategic step towards enhancing its international academic profile by formally submitting its application to become an accredited DELE Examination Centre of the Instituto Cervantes, the official body responsible for Spanish language proficiency certification worldwide. Submitted in November 2025, this application reflects the Division’s long-term commitment to academic quality, external recognition, and service to both the University and the wider community, with accreditation outcomes anticipated in 2026.

The year concluded with an academic visit to the University of Liverpool, where members of the Spanish Division were invited to present the Division’s academic profile and ongoing innovation initiatives, particularly in the field of Artificial Intelligence in language education. The visit facilitated in-depth exchanges with academic units including the Open Languages Centre and the Centre for Innovation in Education (CIE), focusing on AI-enhanced pedagogy, assessment practices, and future collaborative research.

These discussions resulted in concrete prospects for joint projects -particularly with a focus on the AI in education-, shared dissemination activities, and strengthened institutional communication channels, further embedding the Spanish Division within XJTLU’s global academic ecosystem.