Abstract: As a new form of ideological and political education in the digital era, smart ideological and political education empowers the round-the-clock development of university-level ideological and political education through platform construction; fosters shared development by integrating resources; and drives collaborative progress by harnessing collective educational efforts, thereby creating a smart vision for the practical implementation of university ideological and political work. However, it also faces practical challenges such as rigid thinking patterns, technological constraints, and insufficient safeguards. Efforts should focus on guiding smart ideological and political education with mainstream ideology to ensure correct value orientation; optimizing the capabilities of key actors to enhance the comprehensive qualities of both educators and students; leveraging technological innovation platforms to achieve intelligent transformation in ideological and political education; and improving institutional mechanisms to mitigate potential risks of digital technology. These measures will promote the coordinated development of smart ideological and political education in universities, further advancing the positive and beneficial digital transformation of ideological and political education.