Journal of East China Normal University(Educationa ›› 2026, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (2): 32-42.doi: 10.16382/j.cnki.1000-5560.2026.02.002

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Evolutionary Conformity of World Education, Technology and Talent Centers: A Cohort Analysis of 200, 000 Scientists

Ji Liu1, Lin Qiu2   

  1. 1. Faculty of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710062, China
    2. School of Social Development, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
  • Accepted:2025-08-29 Online:2026-02-01 Published:2026-01-26

Abstract:

Scientists are critical drivers for the evolution of world centers of education, technology and talent. The evolution of the three major centers is positioned around scientists, showing high correlation with knowledge accumulation and scientists’ mobility. Constructing a database of 204,643 scientists on education, technology, and talent, through correlation analysis, principal component analysis, OLS regression analysis, and Granger causality analysis, it is found that scientists take center stage to the three major centers and significantly contribute to the development of economy, education and technology. Cohort analysis and Kernal density estimation analysis reveal that the evolution of three centers is consistent. Scientist cultivation in era of big science can focus on three aspects: clarifying the centrality of scientists in an epistemological sense, shortening the time lag between the transformation of scientists’ human capital and social value, and considering the national government a leading force in the identification and nurturing of scientists.

Key words: era of big science, scientists, three world major centers, talent cultivation