From April 13 to 20, 2026, Xiao Tong, Assistant Professor at the Institute of Education, Xiamen University, carried out academic exchange activities in the United States. During the visit, he participated in the Harvard China Education Symposium (HCES) and visited the Rural Education Action Program (REAP) at Stanford University, engaging with international scholars on topics including equity in higher education, rural education, and student development.
At the Harvard China Education Symposium, Xiao Tong took part in the session on Inclusive Education and Educational Equity and delivered a presentation on the developmental experiences of students at China’s leading universities. Drawing on the realities of Chinese higher education, his presentation examined the complex experiences of students in elite institutions in relation to growth, competition, and self-perception. It further explored the pressures, comparisons, and processes of meaning-making that students encounter after gaining access to higher education opportunities, highlighting deeper dimensions of educational equity in the Chinese context. The presentation sparked active discussion among participants and offered an additional perspective for understanding student development in Chinese higher education.
During the visit, Xiao Tong also met with the REAP team at Stanford University to discuss how rural education in China can serve as a locally grounded resource for supporting the growth of rural students. Based on the different educational contexts of China and the United States, the two sides exchanged views on student support, the allocation of educational resources, and the value of local experience. They also explored possible ways of bringing locally grounded knowledge into broader international dialogue in rural education research.
This visit showcased the academic engagement of the Institute’s young faculty in the fields of educational equity and rural education, while also further strengthening the Institute’s academic connections with international institutions.
