To further advance China-Africa educational cooperation and implement the work of the China-Africa Teacher Education Center(CATEC), which was initiated by Beijing Normal University(BNU), a delegation of the UNESCO International Research and Training Centre for Rural Education (INRULED) and the Faculty of Education of Beijing Normal University visited Ghana from April 26 to 30, 2026, to engage in educational exchange and collaboration.
On April 27, the delegation visited Accra College of Education for in-depth discussions regarding the development of the CATEC West Africa Branch, teacher education partnerships, continuous professional development, and the sharing of educational resources. Following the meeting, the two parties held a signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and officially unveiled the “West Africa Branch of the China-Africa Teacher Education Center”. Prof. Samuel A. Atintono, Pricipal of Accra College of Education, Prof. Zhu Xudong, Dean of the Faculty of Education of Beijing Normal University, and Prof. Smile Afua Gavua Dzisi, representative of the Minister of Education of Ghana, delivered remarks. All parties agreed that the establishment of the West Africa Branch would serve as an important cooperation platform for teacher education in Ghana and the broader region, driving capacity building, pedagogical innovation, and the enhancement of educational quality.
The engagement continued that afternoon as the delegation conducted training sessions for more than 40 local in-service primary and secondary school teachers and over 30 teacher educators. Dr. Zhao Yuchi, Executive Director of INRULED, led a session on “School-Based Teacher Professional Development”, guiding participating teachers to design professional development action plans rooted on their specific teaching contexts to ensure training outcomes are effectively integrated into daily school practices. Dr. Wang Kai, Lecturer at the Faculty of Education of Beijing Normal University and Deputy Director of the Institute of Digital and Intelligent Education, delivered a thematic sharing session on the application of generative artificial intelligence in the classroom. Through live tool demonstrations and case studies, he provided practical pathways for AI-enabled instruction. Ms. Liu Tianyi, Programme Coordinator of INRULED, conducted a workshop on gender-responsive pedagogy, utilizing scenario simulations and classroom analysis to help educators foster gender equality and build inclusive learning environments.
On April 28, the delegation conducted site visits to the Demonstration School of Accra College of Education, Madina SDA Basic School, and Achimota Senior High School. These visits provided firsthand insight into local basic education operations, teacher preparation methods, and specific institutional needs. During meetings with principals, teachers, and students, school representatives shared their curriculum frameworks and expressed a strong interest in expanding teacher training and student exchange programs through the CATEC West Africa Branch platform.
This visit marks a significant step for INRULED in deepening China-Africa educational cooperation and serving the development of teacher education in the Global South. By co-establishing the branch center and conducting on-site training and research, INRULED has expanded its cooperative network in West Africa, laying a solid foundation for sustained capacity building and regional exchange. Moving forward, INRULED will continue to work with domestic and international partners to deepen international cooperation in education, contributing to the promotion of educational equity and high-quality development.