The Shadow Education Special Interest Group (SIG) successfully hosted an engaging seminar on October 15, 2025, featuring three graduates from the Master of Education in Comparative and Global Studies in Education and Development (CGSED) program at the University of Hong Kong. The event attracted around 30 participants from both local and international contexts.

The session began with a book release by Dr. Li Jun, a member of the Shadow Education SIG, who introduced his newly published monograph and shared insights from his recent work. Following the book release, three CGSED graduates presented their capstone research projects, each exploring a distinct dimension of shadow education:

Jingwen Li (Jeen) examined China’s Gaokao reform through the lens of ethical theory in her presentation “Beyond Scores: Unpacking Utilitarian-Kantian Conflicts in China’s Gaokao Reform and Shadow Education.”

Xintong Lu (Hazel) delivered a comparative study titled “Comparison of After-school Programs in Canada and Japan: Development and Practice,” identifying both commonalities and contrasts in curriculum, staffing, and funding models.

Wendanyue Xing (Moon) shared her prerecorded presentation “Shadow Education under China’s Double Reduction: Practices and Motivations in Enshi Middle Schools,” offering valuable insights into how students and parents have adapted to policy changes in mainland China.

Each presentation was followed by a lively discussion, where participants exchanged ideas and reflected on the broader implications of these studies for policy and practice.

At the conclusion of the seminar, the SIG announced its upcoming sessions scheduled for November and December:

November 18 (Tuesday)

Acceptance, Resistance, or Indifference: The Role of Social Class in Families’ Responses to China’s Double Reduction Policy

Speaker: Anna Baerman

December 8 (Monday)

Elite and Ethical: The Moral Discourses of “Premium” College Counselors in India

Speaker: Swati Puri

The Shadow Education SIG extends its gratitude to all speakers and participants for their contributions to today’s session and looks forward to continuing the dialogue in the upcoming events.