ICI Talent Development║34 First-Author Papers! Graduate Student Acceptances at AERA and CIES 2026 Hit a Record High

Since 2020, graduate students from the Institute of Curriculum and Instruction (ICI) have had a cumulative total of 115 first-author papers accepted by the Annual Meetings of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES).

In the latest submission cycle, 34 first-author papers by ICI students were accepted. This includes 31 papers for the AERA 2026 Annual Meeting and 3 papers for the CIES 2026 Annual Meeting. These student authors have been invited to present their work at the respective conferences in 2026.

This year marks a new record for the Institute in terms of international conference acceptances. This achievement is attributed to ICI’s carefully designed curriculum system, which not only provides students with a solid academic foundation but also broadens their international horizons, placing them at the forefront of academic research. It is also a testament to the rigorous guidance of supervisors and the persistent efforts of the students themselves.

01. Curriculum Support: Enhancing International Competitiveness

As a Key Research Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences under the Ministry of Education, ICI places high priority on the academic training of its graduate students.

A prime example is the compulsory doctoral course "Educational Research Project Design," co-taught by Prof. Chen Shuangye and Prof. Zhang Wei. The course utilizes a task-driven approach, setting a real-world goal for students: "Submit to a Top International Academic Conference." This drives students to master the skills of designing research proposals that are deeply rooted in the Chinese context while strictly adhering to international academic standards, thereby cultivating research talents with global competitiveness.

02. Guided by Social Responsibility: Addressing Real Issues in China

While emphasizing research methods and normative training, ICI also stresses the importance of social responsibility and real-world relevance in academic work.

This year, the "Educational Research Project Design" course invited Prof. Ke Zheng to deliver a lecture on "Real-World Concern and Policy-Oriented Writing in Educational Research." Drawing on his own research and policy consulting experience, Prof. Ke emphasized that educational research must be situated within the Chinese context and dare to address genuine social problems. He encouraged students to produce academic work that responds to public concerns and serves educational practice.

The lecture triggered deep reflection among students regarding the "direction and significance of academic writing"—specifically, how to raise truly valuable questions based on the reality of Chinese education and how to narrate the "China Story" using international academic language. The goal is to produce research that is locally rooted yet capable of global dialogue. These insights served as a critical starting point for many students in their AERA topic selection and writing process.

03. Dedicated Mentorship: Strengthening  Academic Writing Foundations

The team of ICI supervisors, with their profound academic backgrounds and extensive experience, provided powerful support throughout the process. They offered not only technical guidance on submission strategies but also psychological encouragement, helping students navigate and overcome the challenges inherent in the submission process.

Details of Accepted Papers

Papers Accepted for AERA 2026 Annual Meeting(List follows...)

Papers Accepted for CIES 2026 Annual Meeting(List follows...)