PhD in Education, University of Cambridge

RESEARCH & SCHOLARLY IMPACT

Dr. Ying’s scholarship is situated at the intersection of the Sociology of Education and comparative education, offering critical insights into how socio-cultural and socio-technological transformations shape educational landscapes in teacher education and higher education in both Chinese and global contexts. Her research is defined by a sustained commitment to examining the moral and socio-cultural dimensions of education, with particular attention to the evolving roles of teachers, students, and institutions in times of rapid change. Her impact is evidenced by a high volume of A*/A-ranked journal outputs across major education journals; editorial board members in international journals such as British Journal of Sociology of Education and Multicultural Education Review; consistent PI/co-leader role in multiple research grants; frequent invited talks and conference dissemination around three clusters of expertise below:

EXPERTISE CLUSTERS

• Ethics, values, and governance in education

This cluster examines the ethical foundations of educational policy and practice amid accelerating social and technological changes. It encompasses academic integrity, AI ethics, virtue ethics, and the negotiation of cultural and moral values, while also interrogating emerging frameworks for educational governance and AI governance, particularly how they shape institutional accountability, professional identity, and student development.

• Equity, inclusion, and empowerment in education

This cluster focuses on inclusive education for marginalised communities, and the meaningful participation of both students and teachers in educational governance and policymaking. It also explores the conditions that enable or constrain agency, autonomy, and empowerment, particularly through professional development, student voice initiatives, and participatory pedagogies.

• Intercultural and global studies in education

This cluster addresses the challenges and possibilities of education in culturally diverse and globally interconnected societies. It investigates global citizenship education, multicultural education, cross-cultural dialogue, and comparative policy analysis, with a strong emphasis on how local educational practices are shaped by, and in turn shape, transnational flows of ideas, values, and reform agendas.