To strengthen inter-university academic communication and advance the development of educational psychology, a Young Scholar Forum jointly organized by the Department of Educational Psychology, East China Normal University and the Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University was successfully held at Southwest University on May 18, 2026. Department heads and young scholars from both institutions attended the event. Participants exchanged views on cutting-edge research, methodological innovation and practical applications in educational psychology, so as to jointly promote disciplinary development and talent cultivation.

The opening ceremony was presided over by Professor Yang Wenjing, Chair of the Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University. Professor Feng Tingyong, Dean of the Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, and Secretary Gu Xin of the Department of Educational Psychology, East China Normal University, delivered speeches successively. They introduced the disciplinary development, faculty team, research achievements and talent training models of their respective departments. Both sides noted that the forum served as an excellent platform for young scholars to learn from each other, share academic ideas and explore cooperation opportunities. Going forward, the two parties will establish a long-term and stable cooperation mechanism based on this exchange to support the steady development of educational psychology.

The academic presentation session was co-chaired by Professor Yan Ni from the Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University and Professor Jiang Yi from the Department of Educational Psychology, East China Normal University. Six young scholars presented their research findings in turn. Their presentations were easy to understand and highly practical.

Dr. Gu Xin, Zijiang Young Scholar of the Department of Educational Psychology, delivered a presentation on Bayesian hypothesis testing. He compared Bayesian methods with traditional significance tests, and illustrated the operation and applicable scenarios of relevant software, offering a new approach for statistical research in psychology.

Professor Zhang Jing from the Department of Educational Psychology presented her research on adolescents’ social and emotional competencies. She introduced achievements in assessment system development and practical intervention, providing references for the mental health of young people.

Associate Professor Liu Yuan from the Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University discussed themes and methodologies of longitudinal research. He reviewed widely used dynamic research methods including latent growth models and cross-lagged models, and clarified key points for data processing and model selection.

Associate Professor Zhao Xin from the Department of Educational Psychology explored the developmental patterns of children’s achievement cognition. She analyzed how young children perceive achievement, effort and internal and external constraints, enriching research on early childhood development.

Associate Professor Ren Huiguang from the Department of Educational Psychology focused on school bullying. He analyzed different types and developmental features of protective behaviors among bullying victims as well as their psychological impacts, providing empirical evidence for school bullying intervention.

Associate Professor Cao Bing from the Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University focused on adolescent depression. She analyzed the psychological and neural mechanisms linking childhood adversity to depression, and explored new intervention approaches such as fish oil combined with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

The presentations covered a wide range of research areas including psychological statistical methods, child development, adolescent mental health, school bullying and longitudinal dynamic research. They combined theoretical exploration with practical application. The onsite exchanges were lively and engaging. Scholars raised questions and exchanged ideas actively, demonstrating solid research competence and a spirit of inquiry among young academics.

In the afternoon, a roundtable discussion was held under the chairmanship of Associate Professor Liu Yuan from Southwest University. Scholars from both sides discussed practical issues concerning disciplinary development, research collaboration, talent training and curriculum optimization. A number of consensus points were reached. The two parties agreed to jointly launch research projects, share academic resources and promote exchange visits for young faculty, laying a solid foundation for long-term regular cooperation.

This forum has built a concise and efficient platform for academic exchanges between the two institutions, facilitating the exchange of ideas, resource sharing and complementary advantages. Moving forward, the Department of Educational Psychology of East China Normal University and the Faculty of Psychology of Southwest University will further deepen collaboration. Aligning with domestic demands for education and mental health development, the two sides strive to produce more high-quality research outcomes and advance the steady development of psychology and education in China.