In order to solve the problems like teachers' insufficiency in practical teaching ability and backwardness in practical teaching ability training, etc. in the process of transformation and development from local universities to application-oriented universities, taking environmental engineering specialty in Shenyang University as an object, through reform means of the integration of curriculum practice, cooperation between university and enterprise and practice base construction in universities, the author of the paper explores and practices in improving the teachers' practical teaching ability on three aspects of basic, theory with practice and sustainable development, etc. Therefore, the level of local university teachers' practical teaching ability will be improved during the transformation period, and it provides reference for the teaching staff construction of local universities during their transformation period.