Hector Research Institute of Education Sciences and Psychology

Dr. Fang Xu

Dr. Fang Xu is a postdoctoral researcher at the Hector Research Institute of Education Sciences and Psychology. She works within the Hector Children’s Academies Program (HCAP), analysing digital learning data to understand students’ engagement and learning processes in enrichment courses for gifted children. Her research integrates learning analytics with motivational frameworks to advance educational equity and data-informed teaching. This work is compelling because it bridges psychological theory with real-time learning traces, enabling scalable improvements in teaching and course design. She is driven to translate complex evidence into actionable insights that support equitable, evidence-based education.

Address

University of Tübingen
Hector Research Institute of Education Sciences and Psychology
Walter-Simon-Straße 12,
72072 Tübingen
Raum 3

Contact

+49 7071 / 29-76573
fang.xuspam prevention@uni-tuebingen.de





 

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Publications

Publications

Peer-Reviewed Journal Publications

  • Zheng, S. M., Peng, R., & Xu, F . (2019). 公共环境项目如何落地生根？——基于B县垃圾焚烧发电厂的个案研究 [How can a public environmental project be rooted in the local area? A case study of B County]. Journal of Public Management (公共管理学报), 2, 120–130.
  • Zheng, S. M., Xu, F ., & Ren, L. Q. (2017). 国家高新区科技创新政策变迁研究——基于宣导联盟框架的分析 [Technological innovation policy in national high- tech zones: An analysis using the Advocacy Coalition Framework]. Public Policy Review in China (公共政策评论), 13, 136–152.

Selected Peer-Reviewed Conference Papers

  • Feng, W., & Xu, F . (2025, April). How architectural designs and Montessori educational methods influenced each other in Dutch Montessori schools? [Poster presentation]. American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting, Denver, United States.
  • Xu, F . (2024, August). Educational utility value and perceived difficulty: The role of socioeconomic status and parenting factors in outcomes for Chinese students aged 12–13 and 14–15. [Oral presentation]. International Conference on Motivation & Emotion, Bern, Switzerland.
  • Xu, F . (2024, April). Understanding the relationship between socioeconomic status and academic achievement of Chinese adolescents: The role of educational motivation, depression, and school engagement. [Poster presentation]. American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, United States.
  • Xu, F ., & Strand, S. (2023, September). Socioeconomic status, parenting factors, and academic achievement of Chinese adolescents aged 12–13. [Oral presentation]. Psychology of Education Annual Conference, British Psychological Society (BPS), Liverpool, United Kingdom.
  • Xu, F . (2023, August). Socioeconomic status, parenting factors, and educational motivations. [Oral presentation]. European Conference on Educational Research (ECER), Glasgow, United Kingdom.
  • Xu, F . (2021, June). Socioeconomic status, parental involvement, and Chinese adolescents’ academic achievement. [Oral presentation]. Kaleidoscope Conference, Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Curriculum Vitae

Since 09/2025
Postdoctoral Researcher

Hector Research Institute of Education Sciences and Psychology, University of Tübingen

03/2025-05/2025
Adjunct Research Fellow of Social Science (Part-time and Remote)

New York University, Shanghai

10/2020-01/2025
PhD (DPhil) Researcher

University of Oxford

07/2021-09/2021
Inclusive Teaching Intern

Centre for Teaching and Learning, University of Oxford

03/2021-06/2021
Research Assistant

Department of Education, University of Oxford

06/2020-12/2020
Program Assistant Intern

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Beijing Office, China

10/2019-02/2020
Research Assistant

Shenzhen Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics for Society, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen

09/2018-09/2019
M.A. in Sociology of Education

University College London

09/2014-06/2018
B.A. in Chinese Language and Literature (Teacher Education),

South China Normal University