2013.0320
National Taiwan Normal University established a multinational research center on learning science with Pennsylvania State University
National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) and the Pennsylvania State University of the United States have co-founded the “the Advanced Center for the Learning Sciences” (ACLS) and will conduct bilateral student exchange programs in the near future. The two universities also announced at a press conference on Jan. 24 that they had partnered up with a Taiwanese computer firm, Leo System, to promote Chinese language learning through cloud computing technology.
The establishment of ACLS was jointly announced by NTNU president Kuo-En Chang, Taiwan Academia Sinica academician Ovid Tzeng, Chief of the Department of Science Education of National Science Council, Gwo-Dong Chen, and David H. Monk, Dean of the College of Education at Pennsylvania State University on Jan. 24. NTNU was able to found the center due to a grant provided from the National Science Council.
President Chang said, “We would like to work with experts to do research on science education and Chinese language learning. I really appreciate all the professors from PSU. We cannot have formed the two research teams without their help. I think our cooperation has laid the foundation for a brighter future”.
“I would also like to thank the National Science Council for its financial support. Its Department of Science Education has promoted science education and the learning of the Chinese language for years and it is very supportive regarding the cooperation between NTNU and PSU.” The president also thanked Leo System Chairman Tony Wang for “being willing to help industrialize academic research and promote the learning of the Chinese language through cloud computing technology around the world.”
Gwo-Dong Chen, chief of the Department of Science Education, said “I really admire president Chang. Under his leadership, NTNU has been holding the leading position in science education, digital learning and Chinese language teaching in the world, which has made the establishment of the ACLS possible.” Academia Sinica academician Ovid Tzeng also played an important role in the cooperation with NTNU on language learning and scientific research. “His guidance has helped us to pass a strict selection process and win the approval of the National Science Council. We [the Department of Science Education] are confident that the cooperation between NTNU and PSU has a bright academic future.”
“This is the first project led by the Department of Science Education. It joined forces with the Department of Humanities and Social Science, aiming to industrialize research on language, digital learning and brain science so that it will be able to enter the Chinese language learning market in the world. We consider this project to have given birth to a new mission for the university,” said Tzeng.
“The knowledge we have acquired through research is a very important asset. How can we use it to help the society? We should introduce this asset to the global society because language is an important communication tool in the world today. We have seen an increasing number of people communicating in Chinese as well as in English. We should begin with basic research such as linguistics, cognition, memories and teachings to fieldworks and eventually to the production that is made by multinational companies such as Leo System, which have made breakthroughs in cloud computing technology,” said Tzeng.
The establishment of ACLS is expected to increase cooperation between NTNU and PSU, promote Chinese language learning in the world through cloud computing technology and strengthen academic research in these fields.