ZHANG Minxuan holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Hong Kong. He is a Second-level Professor and Supervisor of Doctoral Candidates in China, with a career spanning academic leadership, policy formulation, and international educational collaboration.
Currently, Professor Zhang serves as Director of the UNESCO Teacher Education Centre and Director of the International Education Research Base under China’s Ministry of Education. He also holds the position of Vice President of the Comparative Education Society of the Chinese Society of Education.
His previous leadership roles include President of Shanghai Normal University, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, President of the Shanghai Academy of Educational Sciences, Dean of the Institute of International and Comparative Education (a university-based think tank at Shanghai Normal University), and Principal of the Shanghai Experimental School. Additionally, he has overseen key educational initiatives in Shanghai, including serving as Leader of Shanghai’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), Coordinator of the Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS), and Head of the China-UK Mathematics Teacher Exchange Programme.
In the academic advisory arena, Professor Zhang is a Member of the Academic Committee of the Chinese Society of Educational Strategy and Development. He previously served as a Member and Deputy Chairman of the National Steering Committee for Professional Degree Education in Education under the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council, and as an expert on the 5th, 6th, and 7th sessions of the Ministry of Education’s University Establishment Review Committee.
Research Focus
Professor Zhang’s research centers on three core areas: international comparison of educational systems and policies, international organizations and educational development, and teacher education.
Academic and Policy Contributions
Professor Zhang has led dozens of national and ministerial/provincial-level research projects focused on educational planning, evaluation, and policy consultation. He has edited or authored over 10 books in both Chinese and English, and published nearly 100 academic papers in both languages. His work has been recognized with 4 first prizes and 8 second/third prizes in the National Educational Science Research Achievements Awards and Shanghai Municipal Philosophy and Social Sciences Achievements Awards. Beyond research, he has played a key role in drafting major educational policies and development plans for both the Chinese central government and Shanghai municipality.
Global Influence in Education
Professor Zhang’s expertise extends to international educational consulting and evaluation. He has briefed numerous senior global officials—including the Prime Ministers of Australia and Malaysia, the President of Finland, the U.S. Secretary of Education, the UK Secretary of State for Education, and the Director-General of UNESCO—on China’s experiences in advancing education.
His international service includes roles as a Former Member of the Governing Board of UNESCO’s Institute for Lifelong Learning and a Former Member of the Advisory Board of UNESCO’s International Institute for Educational Planning. He has also served multiple times as an international education expert for the World Bank and UNICEF, and as a judge for the Yidan Prize in Education (a leading global award for educational innovation).
A landmark achievement of Professor Zhang’s career is his role in leading the effort to establish the UNESCO International Centre for Teacher Education in Shanghai—a milestone that followed years of dedicated work and has significantly strengthened China’s engagement with global education, solidifying his reputation as a bridge between Chinese education and the international community.
