Zhengping Tian has been engaged in education and research work at the Department of Education, Hangzhou University (now Zhejiang University) since 1981. He successively served as a professor, Hangzhou University and Zhejiang University, dean of the Department of Education, and first dean of the College of Education, Zhejiang University. He has received several awards and accolades, including one First Prize Award, four Second Prize Awards and one Third Prize Award of Humanities and Social Science Research Excellent Achievement from the Ministry of Education, as well as two National Book Award Nominations.