The Doctoral Student Exchange Program between the Key Research Base for Humanities and Social Sciences of Ministry of Education,Center for Teacher Education Research Center of Beijing Normal University (CTER), and the Institute of Curriculum and Instruction at East China Normal University (ICI) commenced as scheduled. From April 19 to 24, Professor Li Qiong, Professor Zhou Jinyan, Associate Professor Zhang Huajun, and Ms. Li Nan and Ms. Wang Ling from CTER, accompanied by 12 doctoral students, visited the beautiful Liwa River area, launching a week-long academic exchange with 14 doctoral students from ICI.

Looking Back: Eight Years of Deep Plowing, Setting Off Again

On the morning of April 20, the program officially opened. Professor Li Qiong of CTER reviewed the fruits of the eight-year cooperation between the two universities, pointing out that young doctoral students shoulder the mission of building first-class education disciplines. She encouraged students to cherish the exchange opportunity during the Grain Rain season, inherit the academic spirit through mutual learning and mutual reference, and wished everyone academic progress. Professor Yang Xiaozhe of ICI expressed that the two universities, with Party building as the leading force and academic research as the bond, hoped students would collide ideas, consolidate consensus, and contribute youthful energy to the development of education disciplines.

Professor Zhou Wanye introduced the development overview and core directions of ICI, expecting continued deepening of cooperation between the two universities. CTER doctoral student Yuan Peili emphasized the irreplaceable value of "presence" exchange in the digital era, calling for maintaining the determination of "following trends without chasing them." ICI doctoral student Liu Shuai reviewed last year's learning gains, encouraging students to step out of research islands and broaden horizons through exchange.

Professor Cui Yunhuo of ICI, in his concluding remarks, proposed that education workers in the new era should pursue the dual symbiosis of "subject teacher" and "life teacher." Teachers and curriculum are two sides of the same coin in education work, forming the natural foundation of cooperation between the two schools.

After the opening ceremony, a "Finding Resonance, Moving Forward Together" ice-breaking activity helped the doctoral students from both universities quickly build rapport.

Academic Inquiry: Resonant Dialogue

Throughout the week, lectures by distinguished professors, cutting-edge workshops, and academic reports unfolded alternately. Teachers and students from both universities engaged in sincere dialogue in the deep waters of academia, with each exchange being a re-examination of educational propositions.

Distinguished Professor Lectures

In Professor Chen Shuangye's class, students transformed into "researchers," observing interactive situations on-site and experiencing the unique value of qualitative research. Professor Zhou Yong led students back to the tradition of thought, questioning the connection between curriculum reform and social progress.

Cutting-Edge Workshops

Associate Researcher Yang Chengyu's presentation covered the fusion of Eastern and Western philosophy and methodology, the boundary between human and machine in the AI era, balancing textual analysis, and analyzing the relationship between experience and control in Taylor's principles. Students actively raised questions on-site, engaging in deep dialogue at the methodological level, prompting them to transcend instrumental thinking and re-examine research foundations from a philosophical perspective.

Academic Reports

Professor Yang Xiaozhe shared the core theoretical framework, key technical breakthroughs, and empirical research findings of "classroom intelligent analysis." Assistant Researcher Zhang Zihong traced the historical context of "the structuralization of curriculum content" from the perspective of intellectual history. Dr. Yumiko Fukaya from Japan presented empirical research on children's reading research, with Professor Shen Xiaomin serving as translator. These three reports provided vivid frontier samples from technology frontiers, theoretical origins, and international comparisons, helping students understand the paradigm shift of educational research in the intelligent era and the localization construction of curriculum theory.

Walking: The Living Red Classroom

Beyond academics, the Party Branch of CTER-BNU and the Party Branch of ICI-ECNU jointly organized a Party building study tour themed "Seeking Shu Wutong in the Deep Streets of Shanghai." This brought red education to life. Teachers and students were divided into three teams—"Filmmakers," "Philanthropists," and "Scientists"—navigating Shanghai's historic alleyways. Through walking, they touched the footprints of predecessors and felt the blend of Haipai culture and red heritage. This was an innovative practice of inter-university Party building construction, inheriting red heritage through immersive study tours and consolidating the original intention of education.

Knowledge in Action: Witnessing Real Education

Reading thousands of books and traveling ten thousand li. The CTER study tour visited East China Normal University No. 4 Affiliated Middle School and the Affiliated School of Shanghai Jing'an District Education College. The former's exploration of "deeply integrated teaching" and the latter's frontline practice of AI-assisted teaching allowed students to genuinely feel how technology empowers classrooms and how reform lands in campuses.

Dialogue: Inheriting the Torch

At the end of the study tour, a young scholar salon spanning generations from the 1970s to 2000s pushed the event to its climax. Professors Zhou Jinyan and Zhang Huajun from CTER, along with Professors Zheng Xin and Zhang Xiaolei and Teacher Xu Shiyu from ICI, sat with students for sincere dialogue on academic paths and life choices.

"Don't be afraid to make mistakes," "Become a continuously developing self amid tremendous change," "Do I love my research?"—through the encouragement and questioning of seniors, the beliefs of academic inquiry, being a person, and doing things were thus passed down like a torch.

Finally, a "Friendship Forever" cake brought this study journey to a sweet conclusion. Though the week was short, the seeds of inquiry had been planted in their hearts.

Gratitude to ICI of East China Normal University for their meticulous organization. Looking forward to meeting again in Beijing next year!