NTNU Achieves Benchmark Status in MOE Bilingual Initiative
On November 8, National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) was designated a 'Benchmark University' for the 'Bilingual Education for Students in Higher Education Program' by the Ministry of Education (MOE), recognizing NTNU's exceptional achievements in bilingual education. Since the 2021 academic year, NTNU has been acknowledged by the MOE as a key institution for bilingual education through its diligent implementation of the Bilingual Education for Students in College (BEST) program. This latest recognition, secured alongside the 'University-wide Benchmark Program' grant, underscores NTNU’s effective and strategic progress in advancing bilingual education.
NTNU has consistently emphasized internationalization and values the transformative opportunities offered by the BEST program. Over the past three years, the university has implemented numerous strategies, yielding remarkable results in the following areas:
I. Creating a Comprehensive Bilingual Learning Environment through a School-Based Curriculum Development Model
Following the program's approval, NTNU promptly established the 'Office of Bilingual Education' to oversee the planning and execution of the university-wide BEST program. Through extensive discussions and consensus-building among academic and administrative units, NTNU established 36 pragmatic yet challenging performance indicators. These indicators are designed to be progressively enhanced each year, building on existing foundations. President Cheng-Chih Wu personally supervises NTNU's BEST program and regularly convenes the steering committee to assess its effectiveness and make necessary adjustments to objectives and strategies.
II. Offering Diverse, Theory-Based Courses that Empower Students to Create Opportunities Through Options
NTNU upholds the principle of 'creating opportunities through options' in its curriculum reforms. This approach provides students with broader range of options of English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) courses, nurturing their bilingual proficiency in specialized fields and creating 'opportunities' for global competitiveness. The university’s curriculum design is student-centered and based on sound theory, adopting a three-stage curriculum development model that extends to EMI professional courses across various colleges, fostering students' English academic literacy. All undergraduate departments now offer a minimum of 18 credits within an EMI course framework. At the graduate level, nearly 70% of degree programs are provided as Graduate Programs in English (GPE), along with interdisciplinary English-taught credit programs. In the 2023 academic year, NTNU also approved four Undergraduate Programs in English (UPE). With 886 EMI courses offered in 2023, the program has achieved a remarkable 63.9% increase in course offerings since its launch, further expanding the range of fully English-taught bachelor’s degree programs available to students.
III. Strengthening Collaborative Learning Among Students from Diverse Cultural Backgrounds through a Student-Centered Support System
NTNU has established the Center for Academic Literacy (CAL), the nation's first academic English-focused support center. CAL provides one-on-one writing and speaking consultations, averaging over 80 hours per week—the highest consultation capacity nationwide. CAL also offers specialized academic English writing and speaking courses, workshops, writing camps, lectures, self-developed teaching materials, instructional videos, podcasts, professional books, and language corpora. CAL further incorporates AI tools into its consultation services to assist students with EMI coursework, reports, and theses. Known informally as 'NTNU's Starbucks,' CAL’s operational model and inviting environment have made it a model for other universities seeking to enhance their academic support services. NTNU also hosts the highest number of international degree-seeking students and Mandarin Training Center students in Taiwan, fostering a vibrant bilingual learning environment inside and outside the classroom.
IV, Expanding NTNU's Influence in Bilingual Education through Operational Models and Resource Sharing
With support from the MOE, NTNU established the Resource Center for EMI (RCEMI), which has served 88 universities and trained hundreds of teachers and students. During the summer of 2024, RCEMI will conduct its first overseas EMI training program in collaboration with The University of Texas at Austin, offering summer training courses for faculty nationwide. Upon returning to Taiwan, participants will incorporate their learning into their classrooms and open their courses for peer observation, facilitating the spread of effective teaching practices. NTNU also employs evidence-based methods to evaluate program effectiveness, using action research and reflective practices to continuously assess and refine its approach. The university has developed various bilingual teaching models suited to Taiwan's cultural context, which it generously shares with partner institutions.
President Cheng-Chih Wu emphasizes that NTNU’s benchmark university status is a testament to the collective efforts of the entire NTNU community, as well as a call to greater responsibility. The university will continue developing bilingual teaching models tailored to Taiwan, collaborating with domestic universities to achieve shared goals and optimize resources.
Mei-Hui Liu, Chief Executive Officer or RCEMI and Vice President of Academic Affairs, notes that with MOE support, NTNU's EMI courses and teaching methodologies have not only flourished within the university but have extended beyond its campus. Leveraging NTNU's research and development capabilities, the university has collaborated with renowned international universities to co-create EMI teacher training programs, partnering with institutions such as University of Texas at Austin and Teachers College, Columbia University. Throughout the implementation of the BEST program, NTNU has received continuous recognition from both domestic and international educators, with several universities visiting NTNU to learn from its experiences, demonstrating the program's impactful reach.
Looking ahead, NTNU will continue to fulfill its role and responsibilities as a Benchmark University in bilingual education, and strive to maintain its influence and establish international recognition.