From July 19 to August 2, thirteen students from the SUES Embodied AI Robotics Program, led by instructors Zhu Zina and Gao Meiling, participated in the two-week international summer school From Robotics to Artificial Intelligence—Fundamentals and Practice at the University of Alicante, Spain. This overseas exchange initiative is part of SUES’ efforts to meet Shanghai’s demand for professionals in high-need fields and explore new approaches to cultivating talent focused on applied innovation.
The summer course was delivered by the Human Robotics Group (HURO) at the University of Alicante, combining cutting-edge theory with hands-on practice in an international learning environment. Instructors covered key areas including robot perception, intelligent decision-making, motion control, and human-robot interaction through multiple instructional methods such as lectures, case studies, practical exercises, and group activities, providing students with a systematic understanding of how artificial intelligence is applied to robotic perception, decision-making, control, and human-robot interaction.
In dedicated robotics laboratory sessions, students worked with robotic arms and other specialized equipment and conducted human-robot interaction experiments. The hands-on experience enabled them to translate abstract concepts from the classroom into practical understanding while gaining first-hand exposure to advanced research facilities at an overseas university and strengthening their engineering and innovative thinking skills.
Learning extended well beyond the classroom. The program also included industry visits, introductory Spanish language classes, cultural tours, and local culinary experiences. Faculty members and students visited local technology companies to explore how robotics technologies move from laboratory research to industrial applications and the marketplace. They also explored the streets of Alicante and experienced the city’s Mediterranean character, history, and diverse local customs. Immersive Spanish classes and hands-on culinary activities further broadened the students’ experience and provided opportunities for in-depth cross-cultural learning.
The open and inclusive campus environment, dedicated international instructors, and welcoming local students made the visit a rewarding experience for the entire SUES group. Reflecting on the program, student Zhang Chi said its value went far beyond gaining professional knowledge: “Through face-to-face communication, we learned to understand and embrace cultural differences. As young students, we also helped build bridges of friendship and exchange between young people from China and other countries.”
The program also attracted attention from local media. Radio Nacional de España and the local radio program Hoy por Hoy Alicante interviewed SUES faculty members and students during their stay. Drawing on their own experiences, the students shared what they had learned from courses on cutting-edge developments in artificial intelligence, as well as their impressions of campus life and the local culture. The interviews also offered local audiences a glimpse into how Chinese universities are cultivating talent in intelligent technologies and gave SUES students an opportunity to share their perspectives on international exchange.
The study program represents an important step by SUES in implementing Shanghai’s rapid-response initiative for urgently needed talent and advancing innovative talent cultivation in embodied AI. It is also the first program launched following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between SUES and the University of Alicante. Building on the summer program, the two universities will continue to explore deeper collaboration, including integrated bachelor’s-to-master’s programs and dual-degree programs, while further strengthening international exchange and research collaboration.
