To further advance China–Africa educational cooperation and promote the work of the China–Africa Teacher Education Center(CATEC), authorized by the Ministry of Education and initiated by Beijing Normal University(BNU), a delegation from BNU’s Faculty of Education and the UNESCO International Research and Training Centre for Rural Education (INRULED) visited Ghana from April 26 to 30. During the visit, the delegation signed a memorandum of cooperation with Accra College of Education to jointly establish the West Africa Branch of CATEC. The delegation also delivered three training sessions for local in-service teachers and teacher educators, and conducted a needs assessment through field visits to three local primary and secondary schools, including the demonstration school affiliated with Accra College of Education, Madina SDA Basic School, and Achimota Senior High School.

On the morning of April 27, the unveiling ceremony for the West Africa Branch of CATEC was held at Accra College of Education. Representatives attending the event included a delegate of the Ghanaian Minister of Education, leaders of Chinese and African partner institutions, teacher representatives, and mainstream media outlets such as the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation.

At the signing ceremony, Samuel Awinkene Atintono, Principal of Accra College of Education, delivered a welcome address. He noted that since its establishment in 1902, the College has grown into one of Ghana’s key teacher education institutions and currently enrolls more than 1,400 preservice teachers. In view of West Africa’s large population and the urgent needs of youth development, he said, the establishment of the West Africa Branch of CATEC carries important and far-reaching strategic significance. The Center will provide high-quality teacher training resources, promote educational innovation and regional cooperation, and support the transformation of all 49 colleges of education in Ghana into degree-awarding universities. Atintono emphasized that this cooperation is a strategic initiative with practical developmental value and pledged full support for the implementation of the Center’s work so that it can generate a positive and lasting impact on teacher education development across West Africa.

In his remarks, Zhu Xudong, Dean of the Faculty of Education at BNU, stated that this cooperation marks a new stage in China–Africa collaboration in teacher education. He noted that both BNU and Accra College of Education were founded in 1902, sharing a deep historical legacy. He emphasized that the establishment of the West Africa Branch Center will further promote regional teacher capacity building, policy dialogue, and the sharing of educational resources, while supporting teachers’ continuing professional development. Zhu noted that the memorandum of understanding is not merely a document, but a commitment to cooperation, and expressed his hope that the two sides would work together to cultivate a new generation of teachers with innovative spirit and social responsibility.

In her address, Smile Afua Gavua Dzisi, representative of the Ghana Education Service, said that it was a great honor to cooperate with Beijing Normal University. She pointed out that the partnership aims to strengthen teacher education in Ghana, expand international opportunities in the country’s education sector, and support teachers’ professional development. She emphasized that this initiative reflects the Ghanaian government’s commitment to making teacher professional development a national priority. The quality of teachers and preservice preparation, she noted, is fundamental to effective teaching, and the establishment of the branch center will significantly improve teaching and learning outcomes across the country. She concluded by noting that this initiative is not only a partnership between two institutions, but also a strategic partnership representing the shared development of Asia and Africa.

Following the speeches, representatives of Beijing Normal University and Accra College of Education jointly signed the memorandum of cooperation on the establishment of the West Africa Branch Center of China–Africa Teacher Education Center. Representatives of both sides then jointly unveiled the plaque for the new branch center, marking its official establishment, and visited the branch center’s new office. After the unveiling ceremony, the BNU delegation held a working meeting with the principal, council members, and faculty of Accra College of Education, during which the two sides engaged in in-depth discussions on the future construction and development of the branch center.

On the afternoon of April 27, the BNU delegation delivered three thematic training sessions for 45 local in-service primary and secondary school teachers and 30 teacher educators from Accra College of Education. Zhao Yuchi, Executive Director of INRULED, led a session on school-based teacher professional development, guiding participants to formulate individualized action plans for professional growth based on their own teaching practice. Through case analysis and interactive discussion, he helped teachers clarify their goals and pathways for professional development and encouraged them to translate what they had learned into school-based practice. Liu Tianyi, Program Coordinator at INRULED, conducted a session on gender-responsive pedagogy, using scenario simulations and classroom case analysis to help participants understand how to eliminate gender bias in teaching and create inclusive and equitable learning environments, thereby enhancing their teaching practice. Wang Kai, Deputy Director of the Institute of Digital and Intelligent Education under BNU’s Faculty of Education, demonstrated the practical use of cutting-edge AI tools to more than 30 teacher educators, showing how artificial intelligence can be effectively integrated into classroom teaching, including how to formulate precise prompts to improve work efficiency and help teachers master advanced technological tools.

On April 28, the BNU delegation visited three representative local primary and secondary schools in succession: the demonstration school affiliated with Accra College of Education, Madina SDA Basic School, and Achimota Senior High School. Through discussions and interactions with principals, teachers, and students, the delegation gained a deeper understanding of the needs of Ghanaian teachers and the country’s educational development.

This visit marks an important step in Beijing Normal University’s implementation of its global development strategy. It has deepened BNU’s educational cooperation with Africa under the framework of the Global Teacher Development Center, advanced the work of the China–Africa Teacher Education Center in West Africa, expanded the university’s network of partners, and laid a solid foundation for further in-depth exchange and cooperation.