In July 2026, students from the International Digital Economy College (IDEC) of Minjiang University, led by Professor Lin Zhongyan, Dean of the college, traveled to the European University Cyprus (EUC) to participate in the summer school program titled “AI and Cybersecurity: From Concept to Practice”. The program, which carries 6 credits recognized under the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), was facilitated with communication and organizational support from Beijing Yinggeli Educational Technology Co., Ltd. (YGL). This program marks a deepening of international talent cultivation cooperation between the two universities and injects new momentum for future sustained exchange.

Structured around cutting-edge topics in AI and cybersecurity, the program covered three main modules: theoretical learning, project practice, and outcome presentation. Faculty from EUC delivered courses on key areas such as large-model applications, cyber attack-and-defense strategies, and data privacy protection. Through case studies and technical demonstrations, students systematically acquired essential skills including machine-learning processes and sensitive-data identification. During the practical sessions, students trained and optimized AI models using real-world datasets, thereby enhancing both their technical application and teamwork capabilities.

Three students from IDEC actively engaged in the program, collaborating with over 30 participants from various European countries and Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications in multinational project groups. In key phases such as data preprocessing, model construction, and result analysis, the IDEC students took on key responsibilities, demonstrating solid professional competence and effective cross-cultural communication. Their respective group projects were completed to a high standard and successfully defended during the final presentation.

As an important initiative under the cooperative framework between the two universities, this program embodies the principle of “complementary strengths and collaborative education.” EUC tailored the course content to align with IDEC’s talent development needs, while IDEC seized the opportunity to further broaden its students’ global perspectives. During the program, Professor Lin Zhongyan also held in‑depth discussions with EUC representatives on deepening cooperation, promoting faculty and student exchanges, and advancing joint research, laying a foundation for a broader collaborative platform in the future.

This program not only served as a strong practice for IDEC in advancing its internationalization efforts but also enabled the participating students to improve their technical proficiency and overall competence in a cross‑cultural setting. Moving forward, both universities will continue to use such programs as a bridge to jointly cultivate high‑quality talent equipped for the global digital economy.

IDEC is the first Sino-Cyprus Joint Institution, jointly established by European University Cyprus and Minjiang University. With the mutual efforts of all parties, the program has been running successfully in its 5th year. It has greatly facilitated the exchange of personnel between the two sides, and has become a Model of China-Cyprus cultural and educational collaboration.