Impact

Penn State, National Taiwan Normal University announce joint RFP

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — To promote the strategic partnership between Penn State and National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) that began in 2013, both institutions are seeking proposals for the 2019 Collaboration Development Fund. This program is open to faculty members affiliated with National Taiwan Normal University and Penn State in all disciplines.

Successful proposals will be those that will (1) demonstrate an immediate potential to be sustainable through external funding sources and (2) will involve a clear collaborative effort between faculty members on both the National Taiwan Normal University and Penn State sides.

The partnership between Penn State and NTNU focuses on two major areas: 

1) Collaboration of Learning Sciences. This includes areas of psychology of language learning, science education, and applications of educational technology. Since 2013, there have been six joint workshops that had taken place annually at different locations around the world, including Penn State, NTNU, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, South China Normal University, and the University of Pittsburgh.

2) Benchmarking. These benchmarking initiatives revolve around three main themes: first year experience, leadership in civic education, and World Campus. There have been a few visits both ways since 2015 to promote the benchmarking initiative. Since Penn State and NTNU are both known for their leading scholars in research and education, the two universities jointly implemented the "One Department, One Benchmarking" Program. This program brings together faculty in Civic Education and Activities, English Studies, Industrial Education, Science Institute of Education, Department of Earth Sciences, Department of Science and Technology, and Human Resources Development. These departments see Penn State and NTNU faculty working together on benchmarking.

NTNU is a vibrant institution that has long been recognized as one of Taiwan’s elite institutions of higher education. Founded in 1946, NTNU was formerly an institute dedicated to teacher education, as suggested in the name “Normal,” that later evolved into a comprehensive university. Established on the credo that education is the root of a nation, NTNU has been committed to the pursuit of academic excellence, characterized by the many influential educators and researchers it has nurtured over the years.

Penn State applicants must identify a faculty or staff to work with at NTNU and vice versa prior to submitting the application. Up to five awards could be made depending on the number and nature of applications. 

For more information and a full list of criteria, visit the Strategic Interdisciplinary Research Office's RFP website.

For questions, contact Anne Stover at amc1@psu.edu in the Strategic Initiatives Office.

Last Updated January 15, 2019