Editor's Note: The report source is from the website of CGHE (https://www.researchcghe.org/blogs/east-china-normal-university-joint-symposium/ )
The Centre for Global Higher Education (CGHE) and East China Normal University (ECNU) successfully hosted the second Oxford–ECNU Joint Symposium from 15 to 17 July 2025 in the Department of Education, University of Oxford. Building on the positive reception of the inaugural symposium in July 2024, this year’s event once again saw rich academic exchange and strengthened collaborative ties between scholars, early career researchers, and students from both institutions.
Day One
Faculties and students from ECNU arrived at the Department of Education, University of Oxford on 15 July. The ECNU visitors were warmly greeted by Professor Rachel Brooks upon their arrival, followed by a group discussion where Professor Brooks shared her research experience and the ECNU guests took turns to introduce their research interests.
Day Two: Institutional Introductions and ECNU Academic Presentations
The seminar started with a warm welcome from founding director of CGHE, Professor Simon Marginson, who introduced the Centre for Global Higher Education. His opening remarks initiated an atmosphere of collegiality and intellectual curiosity, setting the tone for two days of lively discussions and exchanges. Professor Yan Guangcai, director of ECNU Institute of Higher Education, then took the stage to introduce ECNU Institute of Higher Education and to reflect on the value of international academic engagement. Professor Yan’s speech resonated with Professor Marginson’s in their shared emphasis on the importance of creating open, collective spaces where scholars can share insights, compare experiences, and explore new directions in higher education research. The morning session ended with additional insights into ECNU Institute of International and Comparative Education (Dr Zhang Dan) and Department of Education (Dr Cheng Liang).
The afternoon session featured a series of thought-provoking academic presentations by ECNU scholars. Topics covered the influence of GPA orientation on talent cultivation (Prof Yan Guangcai), the video study of classroom interaction in Chinese middle schools (Prof Zheng Tainian), the evolution of pedagogics in contemporary China (Prof Cheng Liang), the role of elite mentors in shaping junior scholars’ strategies (Dr Li Feng) and pressing issues of equity and migration in education (Prof Zhang Dan). These presentations prompted constructive discussions on the intersections of educational policy, pedagogy, and social change, collectively attesting to the depth and breadth of educational research undertaken at ECNU.
Day Three: Early Career Researchers’ Symposium
The second day’s seminars were dedicated to presentations by doctoral and early career researchers from both the University of Oxford and ECNU, chaired by PhD student Yunfei Ma (Oxford). Students shared their research on a good range of topics incorporating interdisciplinarity in international higher education, culturally responsive teaching in China, and the geopolitical dimensions of scientific collaboration. Oxford participants presented works on the global space of higher education, the politics of widening HE participation, and climate–nature emergency research collaborations.
This joint symposium was characterised by dialogue on educational research methodologies, theoretical approaches, and empirical experiences, creating a valuable opportunity for mutual learning and cross-cultural communication.
Looking Ahead
The CGHE-ECNU 2025 joint symposium concluded with a plenary discussion on the future global higher education. Discussants reaffirmed the value of the academic exchange in deepening mutual understanding and advancing higher education research as a global public good.
Written by Yunfei Ma
