Center for Policy and Social Research
Research on higher education policy, science and innovation policy, youth digital governance, and the social dimensions of scholarly communication and academic publishing.
About the Center
The Center for Policy and Social Research addresses the interface between academic knowledge production and public policy, with particular attention to higher education policy, science and innovation governance, and the social implications of digital transformation in academic and civic life.
The Center leads the Institute's research on China's Fifteenth Five-Year Plan, examining how national planning frameworks shape scientific research priorities, university governance, and higher education development. It also leads the Youth Digital Governance project, which investigates the experiences, challenges, and needs of young people in digital environments.
The Center's work is inherently interdisciplinary, drawing on political science, sociology, education studies, science and technology studies, and communication research. It contributes to policy debates through its research reports and policy briefs, and maintains close collaboration with researchers in related fields across the Institute.
Core Research Areas
Higher Education Policy
Research on university governance, higher education regulation, accreditation systems, academic freedom, and institutional policy frameworks.
Science and Innovation Policy
Research on national research agendas, science funding, innovation systems, research priority-setting, and the governance of science.
Five-Year Plan Studies
Research on China's national five-year plan framework, with analysis of implications for research, higher education, technology, and social policy.
Youth Digital Governance
Research on the governance of digital environments for young people, including platform regulation, digital rights, online safety, and civic participation.
Open Science Policy
Research on national and institutional policies for open science, open access, research data management, and FAIR data principles.
Academic Publishing Policy
Research on government and institutional policies relating to academic publishing, including journal allowlists, evaluation frameworks, and researcher assessment policies.
Current Projects
Fifteenth Five-Year Plan Studies
A systematic study of China's Fifteenth Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), examining implications for research priorities, higher education development, science governance, and social policy.
View Project →Youth Digital Governance Research
An investigation into the digital governance challenges facing young people in contemporary online environments, including platform regulation, algorithmic influence, digital literacy, and rights frameworks.
View Project →