Five experts awarded for innovation in education research

Five leading education researchers received the Global Award for Innovation in Education Research Methods at the 12th Forum on Empirical Education Research held recently in Shanghai.

The award, the world's first of its kind, was initiated by the Faculty of Education at East China Normal University and launched in 2024. With solid support from the Tin Ka Ping Foundation, it aims to advance the internationalization of Chinese educational research and contribute to the innovative development of global education studies.

This year, the awards were presented to Ellen B Goldring from the United States, Krista R Muis from Canada, Simon Schwartzman from Brazil and Chinese researchers Gu Lingyuan from Shanghai and Leslie Lo Nai-kwai from Hong Kong.

Yuan Zhenguo, awards committee chair and tenured professor at East China Normal University, said the five award winners have made outstanding contributions to methodology or methodological applications in various fields of educational research.

Their creative development and application of empirical research methods and analytical techniques have laid a solid foundation for modern educational research, deepening the understanding of regional and global educational phenomena, he added.

Over the years, the award has gradually become a platform for academic exchanges and extensive dialogues among global researchers. It allows research methods emerging from different institutional traditions and social contexts to challenge and inspire one another.

Looking ahead, the award is set to further pool global academic wisdom, deepen cross-regional methodological exchange, and contribute Chinese wisdom to shaping a more sound and inclusive global education governance framework.