National Natural Science Foundation of China General Program Grant
On August 26, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) released the Announcement on the Review Results of the 2026 Centralized Receipt and Review of NSFC Applications. Professor Ni Qin's project, titled Research on Social Cognitive Intelligence Evaluation of Educational Large Language Models Based on Theory of Mind, has been awarded a General Program grant.
Professor Ni Qin has long been committed to research in natural language processing, large language models, and AI governance, exploring the application of data science and artificial intelligence technologies in the fields of language, education, and area studies. In recent years, Professor Ni Qin has been selected as a Shanghai Youth Science and Technology Elite and has led the development of the Global Middle East Studies Large Model. As project leader, she has undertaken multiple research projects, including the National Natural Science Foundation of China, UNESCO commissioned consultancy projects, the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Technology Support Special Program, and the Shanghai Natural Science Foundation General Program. She has published nearly 40 research papers in various SCI and SSCI journals. In addition, Professor Ni Qin serves as an international expert member of the UNESCO Education AI and ICT in Education Unit and has participated as a drafter in the development and publication of UNESCO AI governance standard documents, including the Guidelines on Generative AI in Education and Research and the AI Competency Framework for Teachers.
This project focuses on the evaluation of large language models within the context of AI governance. In response to the fact that existing evaluation datasets for educational large language models predominantly adopt static capability assessment paradigms and lack tracking of the developmental process of social cognitive abilities in large language models, the project will integrate the Theory of Mind from developmental psychology to construct an evaluation theory, methodology, and dataset for educational large language models that emphasizes the growth of social cognitive intelligence. This research will provide new ideas and methods for the development of linguistics, psychology, education, and other related fields, and holds significant theoretical value and practical application prospects.
This project is affiliated with the Information Science Department of NSFC and has important interdisciplinary demonstrative significance. It marks another General Program grant awarded to the Institute of Linguistic Sciences from the National Natural Science Foundation of China. In recent years, with strong support from the university and relevant functional departments, the Institute has remained grounded in the discipline of linguistic sciences, focusing on key areas such as interdisciplinary research teams, research platforms, and laboratory construction. It has continuously strengthened the recruitment and cultivation of high-level talent and vigorously promoted high-level interdisciplinary research at the intersection of linguistic sciences and artificial intelligence, achieving new progress in research development. This project represents a phased achievement of the research team at the Institute, represented by Professor Ni Qin, and will further inspire all faculty and students to sustain their research enthusiasm, unite efforts to advance the Double First-Class disciplinary development, and strive to produce more high-quality research outcomes in the interdisciplinary field of linguistic sciences.
