The Department of Education mainly focuses on five areas: the basic theory of education, history of Chinese and foreign education, the education policy, education and society and school reform. The Department demonstrates a strong scientific research strength in project approval, journal and monograph publications, achievement awards and other aspects.

With an overall increasing trend year by year, the Department of Education has obtained 22 projects of educational research, covering the national, provincial and local level. In recent years, teachers and students published more than 100 papers in the CSSCI or SSCI journal. The Department of Education has more than 50 publications, and provided 20 research or advisory reports to the Ministry of Education and other relevant departments, among which most of them were adopted owing to these reports. This department has been rewarded with eight national and provincial achievement awards, 13 Shanghai Excellent Achievement Awards, and 5 school achievement and other awards.

In addition, the Journal of Schooling Studies which is sponsored by The National Institute of Schooling Reform and Development, ECNU, is rated as CSSCI Extended Edition, which has a stronger academic influence in the field of basic education research.