Against the backdrop of China’s strategic goal of building a strong education system and modernizing its education governance framework, the Center for Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the School of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University was formally established in late 2021. Since its inception, the Center has been guided by the mission of “grounding research in Chinese practice while addressing global challenges.” It focuses on two core domains—educational leadership and education policy—and is committed to developing a high-level think tank that combines academic rigor, policy relevance, and social responsibility.
The Center currently comprises a faculty team of five members, including one professor, three associate professors, and one lecturer. The team represents an interdisciplinary, diverse, and internationally oriented research community. With academic backgrounds spanning education, economics, and related disciplines, Center faculty are actively engaged with international organizations such as UNESCO and OECD, as well as leading domestic education research platforms. Positioned at the intersection of global education governance and local education reform, the Center produces policy research that is both original and practically impactful.
The research agenda of the Center spans all levels of education, from basic education to higher education. Key areas of focus include science and technology innovation and higher education policy; the cultivation of top innovative talents; students’ core competencies and social-emotional skills; artificial intelligence and future education; equitable and high-quality development of basic education; and teacher professional development and digital leadership. Through an integrated model of academic research, policy consultation, and talent development, the Center advances theoretical innovation while contributing to the modernization of education governance systems and capacities.
Since its establishment, Center faculty have played an active role in national and local education strategy research, undertaking more than ten national- and provincial-level projects, including Major Projects of the National Social Science Fund of China, grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and key research projects commissioned by the Ministry of Education. As a key pillar of education research within the School, the Center is characterized by its integrated “research–service–application” approach and is dedicated to becoming a nationally recognized and internationally influential hub for research on education policy and leadership.
III. Research
Innovation and Think Tank Engagement
Since its establishment, Center faculty have served as principal investigators on multiple national-level research projects, including the Major Project of the National Social Science Fund of China, Management and Collaborative Effectiveness of University Science and Technology Innovation Teams; projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China such as Assessment and Intervention of Scientific Inquiry Skills Driven by Complex Tasks and Mechanisms and Enhancement Strategies for Social Reputation Formation in Research Universities; as well as education-focused grants from the National Social Science Fund of China, including Data-Driven Diagnostic Assessment and Cross-Context Enhancement of Teachers’ Digital Teaching Competencies and Monitoring Policy Implementation and Evaluating the Effects of the “Strong Foundation Program”. In addition, Center faculty have undertaken more than ten key projects commissioned by the Ministry of Education and the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission.
Research findings have been published in leading Chinese and international journals, including Educational Research, Educational Development Research, Studies in Science of Science, China Higher Education Research, Journal of the National Academy of Education Administration, Comparative Education Review (China), Modern Distance Education Research, International Journal of Educational Development, Asia Pacific Education Review, and The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher. Selected works have been reprinted in Xinhua Digest and the Renmin University of China Reprints of Press Materials (Higher Education), providing solid evidence to support education policy formulation.
The Center actively undertakes government-commissioned research and policy advisory projects. Faculty members have submitted multiple policy reports to agencies such as the Ministry of Education and the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, some of which have been adopted or circulated as internal policy briefs. These contributions provide intellectual support for education digital transformation, innovative talent cultivation, and the modernization of education governance.
Since its establishment, the Center has actively developed a portfolio of high-impact academic and policy-oriented programs, forming a set of recognizable signature activities.
Center faculty maintain strong engagement with international organizations and global academic networks. LIU Huacong and XIONG Ziyin bring extensive experience working with international organizations. Dr. Liu served as a consultant to UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), contributing Chinese perspectives to global comparative research on teacher education. Dr. Xiong currently serves as a UNESCO Junior Professional Officer, where she is responsible for knowledge management for the Global Education Cooperation Mechanism (SDG 4-GCM) and supports system-wide consultations on the post-2030 education agenda across the United Nations system. In addition, Center faculty have conducted academic visits and collaborative research in countries including the United States, France, and Germany. In 2024, Professor ZHAO Wenhua represented Shanghai Jiao Tong University as a keynote speaker at the China–France Forum on Education Development, co-hosted by the Ministry of Education of China and the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research in Paris.
The Center actively collaborates with the School of Education and partner primary and secondary schools in Shanghai, as well as schools involved in county-level trusteeship and support programs. Through joint initiatives in teacher training, principal development, and school improvement, the Center has gradually established an integrated service model that combines research, policy consultation, and professional training, providing effective support for education reform and innovation in practice.
Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the Center for Educational Leadership and Policy Studies will continue to uphold the principles of research-led inquiry, decision-oriented service, and integrated innovation. The Center is committed to developing a nationally leading and internationally influential platform for research on educational leadership and education policy.
We will:
l Advance academic leadership by producing high-quality research outputs, developing original theoretical contributions, and building research programs with international visibility and impact;
l Serve policy development by aligning closely with national priorities—including building a strong education system, STEM education, artificial intelligence, and education governance—while actively engaging in policy research and think tank consulting to support evidence-based decision-making at both national and local levels;
l Drive research excellence by expanding high-level research projects, cultivating academic teams with strategic vision and global perspectives, and continuously advancing innovation in educational leadership and policy research;
l Strengthen talent development by building a high-standard, internationally oriented, and human-centered graduate training system, supporting the growth of early-career scholars into future education leaders who combine academic rigor with a strong sense of social responsibility;
l Deepen international collaboration by strengthening partnerships with international organizations such as UNESCO and OECD.
Over the next five years, grounded at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and oriented toward the world, the Center will remain focused on national strategies and the frontiers of education. Through research-informed scholarship and intellectually engaged talent development, we strive to become a key engine of innovation in education governance and a leading intellectual hub in the construction of a strong education system.
Contributed by LIU Huacong
Proofread by WANG Rui
Edited by CHEN Ruoxi
Copyright © 2021年 上海交通大学 教育学院
