Kaiyi Li

Dr. Kaiyi Li serves as a Researcher in the Department of Media Transformations at the Georg Eckert Institute, specializing in the historical and contemporary evolution of Chinese education. Her role bridges academic research and policy analysis within this Leibniz Association-affiliated research institute focused on educational media.

Her academic credentials include:

• PhD in History of Education, Technical University of Braunschweig (2020), dissertation: 'The transnational educational cooperation on the League of Nations and China during the Interwar Period'
• Master's degree in Social Educational Media, Beijing Normal University, focusing on early 20th-century China

Li's research program examines two interconnected trajectories: (1) Historical analysis of transnational educational exchanges (particularly League of Nations-China relations) and media transformations in Republican-era China, and (2) Contemporary studies of digital education policy and governance in modern China. Her work reveals how historical patterns of foreign influence and adaptation continue to shape current digitalization efforts, with special attention to policy subjectivity, rural-urban divides, and state-led educational modernization.

Her 11 publications (2012-2024) demonstrate consistent focus on Chinese educational evolution, progressing from archival studies of interwar educational films and military drills to critical analyses of AI integration and digital policy frameworks. This trajectory reflects growing engagement with contemporary governance structures while maintaining historical depth.

As Project Manager of the third-party funded D-Trac initiative (2021-2024), Li investigates 'policies, governance structures, and local stakeholders' in China's school digitalization. Her academic activities include organizing the 2023 workshop 'The WPR Approach and Policies on Education in the Digital Age' and presenting on topics like 'The Internet + Education Program and Educational Equality' at international conferences.

Her research operates within the Department of Media Transformations' collaborative framework, working with colleagues including Christophe and Macgilchrist on digital education projects, while maintaining connections to Chinese academic institutions through her subject expertise.