On the afternoon of April 16, a delegation of four led by Professor Solange Tenorio Eitel, Rector of Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación (UMCE), Chile, and Professor Luis Flores Prado, Vice Rector, visited Nanjing Institute of Technology. President Zhang Yangfei and Vice President Wang Qun warmly received the guests. The two sides held discussions on deepening inter-university cooperation and advancing faculty and student exchanges.

Zhang Yangfei extended a warm welcome to the delegation and briefly introduced NJIT’s history, disciplinary characteristics, and international development achievements. He noted that educational cooperation between China and South America has entered a new phase of institutionalization and platform-building. The formal establishment of a cooperative relationship between NJIT and UMCE marks the official expansion of NJIT’s cooperation landscape into South America. He expressed the hope that the two universities would strengthen collaboration and make joint progress in areas such as faculty and student exchanges, customized training, joint research projects, and the establishment of joint laboratories.

Professor Solange Tenorio Eitel spoke highly of NJIT’s achievements in application-oriented education, innovation and entrepreneurship training, and international exchanges and cooperation, believing that the two universities have broad prospects for cooperation. She introduced UMCE's institutional profile and teaching characteristics, noting that teacher training universities are currently facing challenges in disciplinary and operational model transformation. She expressed the hope to explore cooperation opportunities in interdisciplinary integration and applied talent cultivation, leveraging NJIT’s strengths in artificial intelligence and innovation and entrepreneurship.

During their visit, the delegation toured the university's History and Development Achievements Museum to gain an in-depth understanding of NJIT’s development journey and educational outcomes.

The meeting was attended by key representatives from the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange and relevant teaching units.

Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación (UMCE) is a well-known public higher education institution in Chile, specializing in teacher training and academic research in educational sciences, humanities and arts, and natural sciences. It holds significant influence in Latin American educational circles.