The IDEA+SMILE educational model, developed by professors Hassan Hossein Mohand and Hossein Hossein Mohand from the University of Granada, is currently being implemented in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. This innovative approach combines pedagogical innovation, artificial intelligence, and emotional education. The initiative was presented in Melilla during an event that gathered local authorities and representatives from the University of Cartagena, which is responsible for its deployment in the Latin American country.
During their visit to Melilla, Edna Gómez, the First Vice-Rector and Vice-Rector for Teaching at the University of Cartagena, and Harold Gómez, the Vice-Rector for Research, engaged in several institutional meetings alongside the model”s creators. Their agenda included an official reception by Marta Fernández de Castro, Councilor for the Presidency, and María José Aguilar, the First Vice-President of the Assembly. They also held discussions with Miguel Ángel Fernández, the Education Counselor, Elena Fernández Treviño, the Provincial Director of Education, and Miguel Marín, the First Vice-President of the Government, to explore opportunities for academic collaboration and the transfer of best practices between Melilla and Cartagena de Indias.
The Colombian delegation”s visit coincided with the presentation of the TRIC-IAG Media Literacy Teaching Guides for Primary and Secondary education, published by Egregius and funded by the Education Council. Co-authored by the Hossein Mohand brothers, along with Sara Osuna Acedo from UNED, Carmen Marta-Lazo from the University of Zaragoza, and José Antonio Gabelas from the same university, these guides receive international collaboration from Edna and Harold Gómez. They provide practical pathways for working on information verification, digital coexistence, and the ethical production of content, emphasizing the importance of media literacy and digital competence as essential educational tools in classrooms.
At the presentation, project leaders outlined the scope of IDEA+SMILE, a registered model that aims to integrate active teaching methods with emotional well-being in the learning process. The acronym IDEA stands for Inspire, Develop, Empower, and Advance, while SMILE encapsulates the values of Serenity, Motivation, Inclusion, Human Leadership, and Empathy. This combination fosters student participation, teamwork, and the creation of a positive emotional climate within the classroom.
The project is being executed under the coordination of the University of Cartagena at tutorial centers in Magangué and San Juan, as part of the Comprehensive Coverage Plan – Immediate Transition to Higher Education Strategy (PIC-ET 2025) promoted by the Colombian Ministry of Education.
The implementation of IDEA+SMILE involves concrete and sustainable actions with low operational costs. The model includes a pilot unit lasting four weeks per subject area (Mathematics, Language, and Natural Sciences), organized around an “Agricultural Challenge” that features SMILE-generated questions created by students and a communicable product aimed at families and the educational community. The primary objective is to enhance student motivation, climate, and self-efficacy, reinforce study habits, and facilitate the transition to higher education, especially in contexts where school retention presents significant challenges.
Furthermore, the development of the project in Colombia includes training for teachers and the incorporation of educommunication—media and information literacy—along with responsible and pedagogical uses of generative artificial intelligence. This technology supports clarifying instructions and improving question formulation, always under teacher review and respecting student autonomy. Thus, AI is positioned as a complementary tool for educational work rather than a substitute for creativity or teacher guidance.
The project is directed by Edna Gómez, while Harold Gómez oversees scientific and institutional support. The academic coordination by components is managed by Hassan Hossein (focusing on socio-emotional aspects, evaluation, and implementation of IDEA+SMILE), Hossein Hossein (educational technopedagogy and artificial intelligence), and Sara Osuna Acedo (educommunication and multimodal competence).
The agenda in Melilla not only facilitated institutional meetings but also opened avenues for international collaboration among the participating institutions. Specific actions will be studied regarding teacher training, the exchange of teaching materials, and potential local pilot projects that adapt the IDEA+SMILE approach to the needs of the educational system in the Autonomous City. The presence of Vice-Rectors Edna and Harold Gómez in Melilla, who are already noted collaborators on the TRIC-IAG guides, strengthens the bilateral nature of the academic alliance between the University of Cartagena and the University of Granada.
Through this cooperation, Melilla is establishing itself as a reference point for educational innovation with international projection, exporting from its academic environment a model that integrates intelligence, emotion, and technology to provide a more human, inclusive, and transformative education.
