A Study on Innovation in the Model for Cultivating Digital and Intelligent Foreign Language Talent at Private Universities in the Context of the “Belt and Road” Initiative

Abstract

The 15th Five-Year Plan explicitly calls for better mechanisms for high-quality, collaborative development of the Belt and Road Initiative, which imposes new demands on the cultivation of interdisciplinary foreign language talent. At present, foreign language programmes at private universities face a structural supply–demand mismatch: on the one hand, the Initiative urgently needs applied foreign language professionals who combine linguistic proficiency, digital and AI literacy, and sector-specific knowledge; on the other hand, existing training systems lag significantly behind industry needs in terms of programme objectives, curriculum content, and competency frameworks. Meanwhile, rapid advances in artificial intelligence are opening fresh possibilities for transforming foreign language education in private institutions. Drawing on a systematic review of relevant domestic and international studies, this paper analyses in depth the practical difficulties confronting foreign language talent development in private universities. It then constructs a “digital-intelligent empowered” cultivation model that integrates five core components—training objectives, curriculum systems, teaching methods, practical platforms, and evaluation mechanisms—across three analytical levels: demand profiling, empowerment pathways, and model design. The paper further proposes a “three-chain synergy” implementation route, aiming to offer both theoretical insights and practical guidance for serving the Belt and Road Initiative and boosting regional economic development.