Earlier this April, as part of the 2026 International Academic Week on “Educational Leadership and Governance in the Intelligent Era,” a delegation from East China Normal University’s (ECNU) Faculty of Education visited NYU Steinhardt – the first stop of its four - university U.S. tour.
The delegation was warmly received by Professor Liang Zhang, Director of the Higher Education and Specialized Education Program at NYU Steinhardt. Professor Yaozong Hu (Head of the Department of Education Management and Director of the Education Economics Lab at ECNU) reflected on the long - standing partnership and expressed sincere thanks for NYU’s hospitality.
The day began with a round of self - introductions, during which ECNU faculty and students shared their research interests ranging from education management and economics to educational technology and curriculum studies.
Professor Ann Marcus, Director of NYU’s Higher Education Policy Institute (and former Dean of Steinhardt and former Vice President for Student Affairs at NYU), delivered a lecture on the history and current challenges of U.S. higher education, including student debt, visa difficulties, and mental health.
Professor Michael Funk (Chair of the Department of Administration, Leadership, and Technology) and Professor Lorena Llosa (Associate Dean for Academic Affairs) then introduced NYU Steinhardt’s programs, highlighting that over 50% of NYU undergraduates study abroad, with short - term graduate programs also available.
The exchange continued over a lunch seminar. Assistant Professor George Spencer shared his research on state - level transfer policies and credit articulation, showing that mandatory state policies significantly improve graduation rates for transfer students — sparking a rich discussion on institutional barriers versus state - level intervention.
Early - career scholars also took part:
From NYU
doctoral students Jessie Guy (online education) and Kevin Collymore (tuition strategies in private colleges) presented their interests.
From ECNU
PhD candidate Xiran Xiong reported on academic pressure among Chinese social science doctoral students, and PhD candidate Jiong Niu critically examined how UNESCO and OECD frame “teacher irreplaceability” in the AI era.
After the research sharing, both sides exchanged gifts and took a group photo — a warm gesture of mutual respect. The delegation then toured the NYU campus, including the library and student center, led by NYU graduate students.
This was a genuine cross - cultural exchange on the real dilemmas facing education today — from student financing to faculty wellbeing.
The ECNU Faculty of Education is deeply grateful to Professor Liang Zhang and all the hosts at NYU Steinhardt. Stay tuned for more updates from Columbia, Boston College, and Harvard.
