Six USS Engineering Students Join International AI and Energy Program in Shanghai

Six students from the Faculty of Engineering at Universidad San Sebastián (USS) participated in the 2026 Summer School at Shanghai University of Electric Power. The experience gave them firsthand exposure to energy innovation, artificial intelligence, and sustainability, while allowing them to engage with students from around the world.

Universidad San Sebastián (USS) continues to expand international opportunities for its students. From June 26 to July 13, six students from the Faculty of Engineering participated in the 2026 Summer School, hosted by the  Shanghai University of Electric Power (SUEP), in China. The program brought together students from universities around the world to explore the challenges of the energy transition through artificial intelligence, digitalization, and technologies that support sustainable development.

The USS delegation included Sara Bravo, a fifth-year Industrial Civil Engineering student; Maximiliano Bayer and Fernando Oyarzún, third-year Computer Engineering students; as well as Camilo Lazo, Ivis Martínez, and Carolina Espinoza, who are enrolled in the Advance Industrial Civil Engineering program, designed for working professionals pursuing a second degree.

On Site

Over the course of three weeks, the students attended lectures delivered by SUEP faculty members and industry experts, visited companies and facilities in the energy sector, and participated in cultural exchange activities alongside students from Brazil, the United States, Ethiopia, Italy, Peru, Russia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The strong interest generated by the program was one of its most notable outcomes. More than 90 USS students applied, and thanks to the direct collaboration between the International Affairs Office and Shanghai University of Electric Power, the Chinese university increased the number of scholarships available to USS students from three to six. Candidates were selected by a committee from the Faculty of Engineering, making USS the university with the largest student delegation in the program.

The Value of International Exchange

Rodrigo Navia, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, congratulated the students for embracing the opportunity. “It is extremely valuable for our students to take part in international exchange experiences like this. A program of this scale not only strengthens their academic and professional training, but also helps them develop a global perspective. We hope they will now share what they have learned with fellow students across our campuses and encourage others to take advantage of the international opportunities available during their education.”

He made these remarks during a welcome ceremony held on July 23, following the students’ return.

Academic and International Experience

The students agreed that one of the program’s greatest benefits was the opportunity to gain firsthand insight into China’s technological and energy advances, while seeing how concepts they study in the classroom are already being implemented on a large scale.

Carolina Espinoza highlighted the value of the program’s academic component. “This experience gave us firsthand insight into China’s remarkable level of technological development and helped us understand how innovation is strategically integrated across different sectors. We saw how digitalization, renewable energy, and artificial intelligence serve as key pillars in the development of smart grids, contributing to more efficient and sustainable energy systems.”

Camilo Lazo emphasized the opportunity to learn from development models that could inspire future solutions in Chile. “Rather than simply learning technical content, we gained an international perspective on how Shanghai has advanced its energy transition, the steps it followed, and the approaches it adopted. It is an experience whose lessons we can apply throughout our professional careers.”

Sara Bravo, meanwhile, noted that the experience contributed to both her academic and personal growth. “Seeing how the technologies we study at the University are applied in practice was incredibly rewarding. Travelling on my own and adapting to a completely different environment also gave me greater confidence and a new perspective on my professional future.”

Building Long-Term Collaboration

The delegation’s participation is part of the ongoing collaboration between USS and Shanghai University of Electric Power to strengthen academic cooperation between the two institutions. The partnership, developed through the relationship between SUEP and the USS Center for Energy Transition (CTE), continues to create new opportunities for student mobility and research.

During the second semester, USS will welcome two SUEP doctoral students, who will complete research placements at the CTE. This reciprocal mobility initiative will further strengthen collaboration between the two universities and pave the way for new joint initiatives in energy, technological innovation, and applied research.