The 2025 National Conference on Educational Research was held in Beijing from April 29th to 30th. Wang Jiayi, Vice Minister, Ministry of Education, and Chief Inspector, attended the meeting and delivered a speech. Also present at the conference were Ren Shaobo, Party Secretary of Zhejiang University; Ren Youqun, Party Secretary of Shandong University; Wang Shuguo, President of Fuyao University of Science and Technology; and Li Jianping, Vice Chairperson of the Tianjin Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and President of the Tianjin Academy of Educational Sciences. Representatives from National Office for Philosophy and Social Sciences and the National Key R&D Program under the National Development and Reform Commission also attended and gave speeches. During the conference, the “Center for Research on Educational Thought in the New Era” at the China Academy of Educational Sciences (CNAES) was officially inaugurated.
The theme of this conference was“Strengthening Strategic Research on Building China into a leading country in education and Deepening the Development of Chinese Pedagogy.” The main objectives were to thoroughly study and implement the spirit of the National Education Conference, the 2024-2035 Master Plan on Building China into a Leading Country, and its Three-Year Action Plan; to exchange experiences, analyze the current landscape, and build consensus around national educational research efforts; to conduct thematic discussions on topics such as“Educational Thought in the New Era,”“Higher Education Strategies,”and “Innovative Mechanisms for Joint National Research Funding”; and to hold exchange sessions on the progress of major and key projects under the National Social Science Fund in education, as well as on key initiatives for the development of Chinese pedagogy.
The meeting emphasized that the education and research front has adhered to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, focusing on major issues in building China into a leading country in education and anchoring the construction of an independent knowledge system for Chinese pedagogy. Significant annual progress and important achievements have been made in areas such as discipline construction, the transformation of think tank research paradigms, and international influence, showcasing a new outlook for educational research. It is essential to accurately grasp the profound changes in the educational environment, enhance the sense of urgency and mission to support the construction of a strong educational nation with high-level educational research, and strengthen strategic thinking to deepen the study of Chinese pedagogy in deepening the building China into a leading country in education. First, it is necessary to systematically and theoretically advance General Secretary Xi Jinping's important discourses on education, establishing Chinese pedagogy as the learning of the times. Second, the focus should be on strategic issues in the building China into a leading country in education, making Chinese pedagogy the learning of a strong nation. Third, it is crucial to be rooted in the great practice of China's educational reform and development, ensuring that Chinese pedagogy becomes the learning of practice.
The responsible comrade from the National Office for Philosophy and Social Sciences emphasized that accelerating the construction of an independent knowledge system for Chinese philosophy and social sciences is a major mission for the field. It is hoped that the education and research front across the country will continue to adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, focus on the systematic transformation practices in building China into a leading country in education, and strive to construct an independent knowledge system for Chinese pedagogy, thereby making new contributions to advancing building China into a leading country in education.
The responsible comrade for the key special projects under the National Key R&D Program of the National Development and Reform Commission stated that the scientific and technological sector must thoroughly study and implement the important directives of General Secretary Xi Jinping on education, grasp the essential requirements of education and the laws of talent cultivation, and enhance the "supporting force of science and technology." At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen work coordination and promote the synergistic development of education, science and technology, and talent to achieve tangible results.
In the work exchange section, Sun Chuangui, Deputy Director of the Education Department of Hunan Province; Zhao Hongtao, President of the Gansu Institute for Educational Research; Wu Baoyu, Director of the Office of the Guangdong Provincial Education Science Planning Leading Group; Bai Bing, Assistant to the President of Northeast Normal University and Head of the Social Science Division; and Deng Youchao, Executive Deputy Director of the National Office for Education Science Planning (NOESP), delivered speeches.
During the thematic discussion on "Educational Thought in the New Era," the following individuals delivered speeches: Ren Shaobo; Li Yi, Director, the Beijing Municipal Education Commission; Wang Dinghua, Secretary, the Party Committee of Beijing Foreign Studies University; Xu Haiyang, President, Northeast Normal University; You Xuqun, President, Shaanxi Normal University; Lei Qili, Vice President, East China Normal University; Wang Binglin, Professor, Beijing Normal University; and Shi Zhongying, Professor, Tsinghua University.
The conference featured a panel discussion on "Higher Education Strategy," during which the following individuals engaged in dialogue and exchange on the topic: Ren Youqun, Wang Shuguo, Xie Weihe, First-Class Professor, National Philosophy and Social Sciences at Tsinghua University; Gu Feng, Full-time Deputy Director, the University Affairs Committee of Shanghai Jiao Tong University; Xu Xiaozhou, Professor, Zhejiang University; and Nie Xiaolin, Senior Vice President, iFlytek Co., Ltd. and President of the Education Business Group.
On the evening of the 29th, the conference featured 7 parallel sessions, each focusing on distinct themes for group discussions: "Basic Education Strategy," "Innovation in Regional and School Educational Practices," "Vocational Education Strategy," "Research Guidance and Management in Higher Education Strategy," "Advancement of Key Projects in the Construction of Chinese Pedagogy," "Innovation in the Joint Mechanism of National Key R&D Programs, National Natural Science Foundation, and National Education Science Planning," and "Promotion of Major and Key Projects in Education under the National Social Science Fund."
On the morning of the 30th, representatives from each group delivered reports and exchanged insights at the conference. The speakers included He Yuan, Director, the Yunnan Institute of Educational Sciences; Zhu Hongping, Director, the Zhejiang Research Institute of Education Science; Cai Qiyong, Director, the Chongqing Academy of Education Science; Li Nan, Secretary-General and Vice President, Chinese Association of Higher Education; Liu Tiefang, Dean, College of Educational Science at Hunan Normal University; Song Tian, Dean, School of Education at Beijing Institute of Technology; and Liu Baocun, Dean, Institute of International and Comparative Education at Beijing Normal University.
Also in attendance at the meeting were responsible officials from relevant departments and affiliated institutions of the MoE, heads of educational administrative departments from certain provincial-level regions (including cities with independent planning status), principal leaders of provincial-level (including cities with independent planning status) educational research institutes and planning offices, as well as university leaders and heads of social science departments from related institutions. Representatives overseeing major and key projects in education under the National Social Science Fund and leaders of the series of projects for the construction of Chinese pedagogy were also present as observers.
The relevant sessions were chaired by Li Yongzhi, President, CNAES and Director, NOESP; Yu Fayou, Vice President, CNAES; Deng Youchao, Executive Deputy Director, NOESP; and Ma Xiaoqiang, Director, the Institute of Educational Statistics and Analysis, CNAES.
Over ten central media outlets, including Xinhua News Agency, Guangming Daily, Xuexi Qiangguo, China Education Television, and China Education Daily, as well as influential academic journals such as Educational Research and People's Education, participated in the coverage and dissemination of the conference's outcomes.
