Professor Chen began his career as a science scholar at East China Normal University (ECNU). He went on to hold senior leadership roles at the university, serving as Vice-President from 2003 to 2012 and as President from 2012 to 2018.

He had also held a UNESCO Chair in Teachers Education (2012-2017) at ECNU and since 2021 he has been the Chair of the Governing Board of UNESCO Teacher Education Center, fostering international academic cooperation and contributing to the training of large cohorts of international teachers.

From 2017 to 2023, Professor Chen served as Deputy Mayor of Shanghai, China, before becoming Vice-Chairman of the Shanghai Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

Professor Chen joined UNESCO’s new Senior Management Team, supporting the Director-General in transforming education systems and advancing equitable, inclusive and high-quality learning, while equipping learners worldwide with the most advanced skills, for the benefit of people and peace.