In line with the guiding principles of the Several Opinions of the Ministry of Education on Implementing the Graduate Education Innovation Initiative, Strengthening the Cultivation of Graduate Students' Innovative Abilities, and Further Improving the Quality of Talent Development, the Institute of Education at Xiamen University has established a Doctoral Visiting Scholar Base for higher education-related majors since December 2007. This initiative, approved by the Degree Management and Graduate Education Department of the Ministry of Education, aims to further enhance the quality of graduate training in higher education, tap into high-quality educational resources, and actively advance the Graduate Innovation Program. To date, the base has enrolled 103 doctoral students in 19 phases, all hailing from renowned universities at home and abroad.
The Institute of Education at Xiamen University hosts the only National “985 Project” Innovation Base for Philosophy and Social Sciences in the field of higher education research, as well as the Key Research Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences under the Ministry of Education—the Center for Higher Education Development at Xiamen University. It is also the nation’s first state-level key discipline in Higher Education. The establishment of this visiting scholars base will fully leverage our institute's strengths in the higher education discipline, providing doctoral students in higher education programs from various institutions with a high-quality platform for teaching and research that enables resource sharing and complementary advantages. During their stay at the base, visiting doctoral students will immerse themselves in diverse educational cultures, teaching styles, and academic atmospheres through mutual exchange.
The doctoral supervisors for this phase of enrollment include 16 renowned scholars: Wu Daguang, Shi Qiuheng, Bie Dunrong, Liu Zhentian, Zheng Ruoling, Zhao Tingting, Qin Hongxia, Guo Jianpeng, Wu Wei, Xu Lan, Bao Wei, Wang Shutao, Chen Xingde, Chen Bin, Guo Yirong, and Li Chengfeng. The list is subject to the information published on the official website of the Graduate School of Xiamen University. These supervisors will take charge of the guidance and training of visiting doctoral students. Visiting doctoral students may participate in the doctoral courses of our institute and the research activities of relevant supervisors. They will also have full access to the rich library collection resources of Xiamen University.
1.Eligibility and Target Applicants
Target Applicants: Primarily full-time second-year doctoral students majoring in Higher Education or related fields at home and abroad, who should meet the following basic requirements:
1.Be honest and trustworthy, with good moral character, and in good physical and mental health;
2.Have completed or will soon complete doctoral-level coursework, with excellent academic performance;
3.Possess a solid professional foundation;
4.Demonstrate good research potential;
5.Conscientiously abide by all rules and regulations of the Visiting Scholar Base.
Duration of Visit:
One semester.
Visiting Period:
The second semester of the 2025-2026 academic year, i.e., February 2026 – July 2026.
2.Application Procedure
Applicants shall fill out the Application Form for the Doctoral Visiting Scholar Base in Higher Education (Ministry of Education) at the Institute of Education, Xiamen University (see Attachment). The form must be recommended by the applicant’s supervisor and submitted to the Graduate School (Department/Office) of their home institution for review and approval.
Hard copy submission: Send via SF Express to “Attn: Ms. Zheng Wenqian, Office 216, Visiting Scholar Program Office, Institute of Education, Xiamen University, Xiamen City, Fujian Province, P.R. China (Postal Code: 361005)”.
Electronic copy submission: Send the form to zhwq@xmu.edu.cn, with the email subject titled “Name + 2025-2026 Academic Year Visiting Scholar Application Form”.
Application Deadline: August 16, 2025 (subject to the postmark date).
The Visiting Scholar Base will organize experts to evaluate and select applicants in accordance with the principles of scientific fairness, emphasis on innovation, strict selection, and preferring quality over quantity. The list of accepted visiting scholars will be confirmed, and acceptance notifications will be issued accordingly.
Base Contact Person: Zheng Wenqian
Tel: 0592-2187500 | Email: zhwq@xmu.edu.cn
Base Director: Qin Hongxia
Tel: 0592-2187758 | Email: qinghx99@126.com
Website of the Institute of Education: http://ihe.xmu.edu.cn
3.Funding Support
3.1 Round-trip transportation expenses: Calculated based on the full price of hard-seat train tickets or second-class seats on bullet trains. This will be discussed separately for overseas visiting scholars.
3.2 Accommodation expenses: Calculated based on the accommodation fee standard of the actual residential building in the campus where the scholar resides.
3.3 Research achievement reward: If a visiting doctoral student publishes research results in core journals (CSSCI, Chinese Social Sciences Citation Index), with "Doctoral Visiting Scholar Base of the Institute of Education, Xiamen University" as the first affiliated unit, the Visiting Scholar Base will provide a certain amount of funding as a reward.
Attachment: Visiting Scholar Application Form for the 2025-2026 Academic Year
Institute of Education, Xiamen University
July 16, 2025
