On the morning of February 21, 2025, the Institute of Curriculum and Instruction at East China Normal University (ECNU) convened a specialized seminar on think tank and database development. Faculty members, including Yang Chengyu, Wang Zhe, Zhang Xiaolei, and Wang Bingru, participated in the discussion. The seminar featured guest speakers Xu Ning, Vice Dean of the Yangtze River Industry Development Research Institute at Nanjing University, He Liang, Executive Dean of Nanjing University’s Laike Artificial Intelligence Research Institute, and Chen Tianyi, General Manager of Huizhi Technology (Nanjing) Co., Ltd., who shared insights and engaged in collaborative dialogue.

Yang Chengyu, Deputy Director of the Institute of Curriculum and Instruction, opened the seminar by warmly welcoming Vice Dean Xu Ning and his team, expressing heartfelt gratitude for their participation. Yang provided an overview of the Institute’s past achievements in think tank operations and policy consultation, highlighting its significant contributions in these areas.

The Institute has made remarkable strides in think tank and policy consultation work. The successful establishment of the “National Textbook Construction Key Research Base (Theoretical and International Strategy Studies on Textbooks with Chinese Characteristics)” has set higher expectations for think tank and database development. Yang emphasized that AI empowerment is an essential pathway for advancing think tank capabilities, noting that the Institute has long prioritized this area and established a strong foundation for such initiatives.

The Yangtze River Industry Development Research Institute, a national-level professional think tank, has earned prestigious accolades, including the First Prize for Shanghai Decision-Making Consultation Research Achievements and a second-place ranking in the system impact of university-affiliated think tanks (specialized category). Vice Dean Xu Ning shared detailed insights into the think tank’s operational mechanisms and experiences, elaborating on its functions, roles, and distinctions from traditional academic institutions.

Dean He Liang and General Manager Chen Tianyi presented advancements in AI-empowered think tank development, showcasing a compelling demonstration of policy database visualization. Their presentation highlighted innovative approaches to leveraging AI for data-driven policy analysis.

The seminar facilitated in-depth discussions on critical topics, including the transformation of journal content into think tank outputs, the selection and drafting of policy consultation reports, submission channels, and the functionality and development processes of databases. Both parties also explored potential areas for future collaboration, laying the groundwork for sustained partnerships.

The seminar provided faculty with fresh perspectives on think tank and database development, sparking inspiration and establishing a solid foundation for future initiatives in these areas. The exchange of ideas and expertise underscored the Institute’s commitment to advancing its think tank capabilities through innovative, AI-driven approaches.