From December 2 to 12, Professor Edward C. Melhuish—guest professor at Beijing City University (BCU), internationally renowned expert in child development, Professor at the Department of Education, University of Oxford, and Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, UK—was invited to visit BCU for a two-week residency academic mentorship hosted by the School of Education. Centered on the theme “Child Development and Social Equity in a Global Context: Cross-Cultural Dialogues in Educational Psychology,” this exchange offered international frontier perspectives and practical insights to further advance the field of child psychology.
During his residency, the School of Education organized systematic and in-depth dialogues around cutting-edge topics in early childhood education and child psychological development through roundtable forums, practice-oriented seminars, and visits to kindergartens. Professor Melhuish participated in multiple thematic salons covering mental health support for vulnerable children, the relationship between educational environments and psychological well-being, holistic child development, inclusive education, young children’s self-identity, talent development for early childhood care and education, global education governance, and disciplinary approaches to school-based violence. Engaging in discussions with faculty and students, he analyzed pathways for building child psychological support systems from an international comparative perspective and provided targeted recommendations for localized practice.
In addition, Professor Melhuish visited undergraduate classes in the Early Childhood Education program to offer guidance on teaching practices in early mathematics education. He also conducted an on-site visit to Lisui Central Kindergarten, where he observed children’s self-directed play and environmental design, and delivered a case-based workshop on the micro-theme of “What to Do When Rejected,” focusing on social-emotional development in middle kindergarten groups. His input offered frontline teachers a valuable international perspective that combined theoretical depth with practical inspiration.
Beyond academic activities, the School of Education integrated cultural experiences into professional exchange by inviting Professor Melhuish to personally engage in intangible cultural heritage activities such as Chinese calligraphy and paper-cutting—drawing connections between these traditional arts and early childhood education curricula, thereby infusing cross-cultural academic dialogue with humanistic warmth.
Throughout the two-week residency, the School of Education demonstrated exceptional academic coordination and professional execution through its systematic planning and meticulous implementation. Through intensive and sustained engagement, Professor Melhuish not only shared internationally leading research but also gained deep insight into China’s foundational education practices, laying a solid foundation for long-term collaboration.
This exchange represents a key step in BCU’s ongoing efforts to deepen high-level international cooperation and integrate teaching with research. Moving forward, BCU will continue to expand global dialogue platforms to foster deeper synergy between theoretical innovation and practical exploration.
