At the recent 11th Forum on Empirical Education Research in Shanghai, renowned Canadian educator Ruth Hayhoe from the University of Toronto advocated for the global adoption of Chinese educational principles rooted in traditional culture. The event, hosted by East China Normal University, highlighted how China’s educational wisdom offers transformative insights for universities worldwide.
Professor Hayhoe emphasized the Confucian concept of ‘harmony without conformity’ (和而不同) as particularly valuable for contemporary higher education systems. This philosophy, she argued, provides a framework for creating inclusive learning environments that celebrate diversity while maintaining social cohesion. She called for a fundamental shift from a global knowledge economy toward a global knowledge society that prioritizes public good over commercial interests.
Hayhoe’s distinguished career spans over five decades, beginning as a teacher in Hong Kong in 1967 and evolving through roles as scholar, diplomat, and university administrator. This unique background has positioned her as one of the few Western scholars capable of bridging Eastern and Western educational philosophies with deep cultural sensitivity.
The forum recognized Hayhoe’s contributions with the Global Award for Innovation in Education Research Methods for her groundbreaking ‘dialogue among civilizations’ research paradigm. This methodology requires deep immersion in other cultures’ historical, philosophical, and value systems, moving beyond binary oppositions between Eastern and Western approaches to education.
Four other distinguished scholars received the same honor: Stephen Raudenbush (University of Chicago), Manabu Sato (University of Tokyo), Wang Shanmai (Beijing Normal University), and Rupert Wegerif (University of Cambridge). The award, inaugurated in 2024, represents the world’s first recognition program specifically dedicated to innovation in educational research methodology.
Professor Yuan Zhenguo, head of East China Normal University’s Faculty of Education and key architect of the award, stated the initiative aims to foster international exchange and advance empirical education research. ‘We hope to guide China’s empirical education research to better engage with the world,’ Yuan remarked, highlighting China’s growing role in shaping global educational discourse.