Dr Hongzhi Zhang is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Education at Monash University. His work lies at the intersection of cultural studies, curriculum studies, and education policy.  

At the heart of Dr Zhang’s scholarship is a deep engagement with cultural perspectives in education, particularly those rooted in Asian philosophies and traditions. His work challenges the dominance of Western epistemologies in education by advocating for Asia as Method—an approach that mobilises Asian intellectual resources to rethink educational theory, research, and practice. His co-edited book Asia as Method in Education Studies: A Defiant Research Imagination(Routledge, 2015) is a landmark contribution that has catalysed new conversations on cultural pluralism and epistemic justice in global education studies.

His research on education policy critically interrogates how large-scale reforms intersect with issues of equity, culture, and social justice, particularly in Asian contexts. His recent book, Equity Issues in Chinese Higher Education Policy: A Case Study of the Enrolment Expansion Policy (Routledge, 2023), examines how China’s rapid higher education expansion has shaped access and inequality, offering a nuanced analysis of how market-oriented reforms have simultaneously created opportunities and deepened structural disparities. This work contributes to global debates on massification, meritocracy, and educational inclusion.

Dr Hongzhi Zhang leads the Asian Cultural Community-Engaged Pedagogy for Teaching (ACCEPT) project, a significant initiative that bridges academic research, school education, and community engagement. The ACCEPT project develops innovative, community-engaged pedagogical approaches to support the effective teaching of the Cross-Curriculum Priority of Asia and Australia’s Engagement with Asia in the Australian Curriculum. Under Dr Zhang’s leadership, the project partners with local councils, museums, cultural organisations, and schools to co-create educational resources and experiential learning opportunities that bring the histories, voices, and contributions of Asian Australian communities into the classroom. His work on ACCEPT exemplifies a culturally responsive and justice-oriented model of curriculum practice, one that empowers educators, celebrates diversity, and deepens intercultural understanding. Through this project, Dr Zhang not only strengthens teacher capability in engaging with Asia but also positions education as a transformative space for recognising and valuing Australia’s multicultural heritage.

Dr Hongzhi Zhang has demonstrated sustained leadership in both research and professional engagement through a range of nationally and internationally significant projects. Since 2017, he has led a series of professional development programs for school leaders and teacher educators from the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Education, China. Hosted by the Faculty of Education at Monash University, these programs focus on building intercultural pedagogical capacity, leadership development, and policy understanding in global education contexts.

EDF5610: Investigating education issues in global contexts

EDF5611: Interacting with research in education contexts

EDF5614: Research project

EDF5663: Education and globalisation in the Asian century

EDF3065: Indigenous perspectives and learning.

EDF2031: Indigenous perspectives on teaching and learning

EDF3009: Schooling, education and equity: Local and global perspectives

EDF3216: Humanities and social sciences education in the primary and secondary years

Engaging China: Strategies for the Faculty of Education