Center for Teacher Education Research of Beijing Normal University, Key Research Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences for Universities, Ministry of Education

(Institute of Teacher Education, Faculty of Education, Beijing Normal University)

Institute of Teacher Education, Faculty of Education, Beijing Normal University, evolved from Center for Teacher Education Research of Beijing Normal University , Key Research Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences for Universities, Ministry of Education established in 2004 (Hereinafter referred to as CTER). It is the only key research base for humanities and social sciences in higher education institutions approved by the Ministry of Education dedicated to teacher education research. Upholding its mission of "Inspiring Teachers with Integrity and Vision," CTER focuses on foundational research in teacher education, the construction of discourse systems, and evidence-based practical innovation. CTER has produced influential localized theoretical achievements and practical approaches to serve the strategic needs of building a high-quality teaching workforce in China. In 2022, CTER was listed as a source think tank in the China Think Tank Index (CTTI).  

CTER’s primary research areas include theories and history of teacher education, teacher education policy, comparative teacher education, teacher education curriculum and assessment, teacher development and school/regional education improvement, and interdisciplinary perspectives on teachers and teacher education. Under the leadership of distinguished scholars such as Prof. Lijuan Pang and Prof.Xudong Zhu,     CTER has produced a series of landmark achievements, including the *Beijing Normal University Teacher Education Series*<京师教师教育论丛>, which is among the most influential works in the field. CTER established China’s first master's and doctoral programs in teacher education, launching an academic master's program in 2007, an academic doctoral program in 2009, a professional master's program in secondary English and Chinese language teaching in 2017, and an international doctoral program in "Teacher Education Policy and Practice" in 2018. It has developed a multi-tiered talent cultivation system encompassing academic and professional master's programs, academic and international doctoral programs, nurturing a large number of teacher education specialists with strong ideological grounding, solid professional competence, and outstanding research capabilities.

CTER remains committed to serving the nation’s strategic needs for high-quality teacher training and workforce development. It strives to integrate theory with practice, providing innovative models and mechanisms for refining educational philosophies, advancing teacher professional development, and improving schools in basic education. Additionally, it serves as a platform for global teacher education exchange and collaboration. Aligned with its strategic goal of "becoming a world-class academic institution in teacher education," CTER employs flexible, open, and efficient research mechanisms to foster interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers from diverse fields and institutions. Through extensive domestic and international academic exchanges, it conducts comprehensive interdisciplinary research on teachers and teacher education. CTER aims to develop into:  

1. A think tank for teacher education with Chinese characteristics and an innovative base for cultivating high-end teacher education talent

2. A leading institute for teacher education disciplines in China

3. A hub for theoretical and practical innovation in teacher education with Chinese characteristics

4. An outstanding think tank for national teacher education reform and policymaking

5. A guiding base for distilling the educational philosophies of outstanding primary, secondary, and preschool teachers and a collaborative partner for teacher professional development

6. A global platform for teacher education exchange and cooperation