NTNU College of Education–Founded APATE Officially Joins WERA
Advancing Taiwan’s Teacher Education Research onto the Global Stage
The Asia-Pacific Association for Teacher Education (APATE), established under the leadership of the College of Education at National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU), has recently officially become a member of the World Education Research Association (WERA). This milestone marks a significant step forward for Taiwan’s teacher education research in engaging with the global academic community and reflects the increasing international engagement and academic presence of NTNU’s College of Education.
APATE’s membership in WERA not only enhances Taiwan’s visibility within international education research networks but also provides a vital platform for cross-national collaboration and academic exchange in teacher education across the Asia-Pacific region.
Promoting Internationalization and Strengthening Regional Collaboration
Under the leadership of Professor Hsiu-Lan Shelley Tien, Dean of the NTNU College of Education and President of APATE, the association has actively advanced its international development. In April 2024, a delegation from APATE traveled to Philadelphia, USA, to engage in academic meetings with WERA leadership. During the visit, the delegation presented the progress of APATE’s membership application and proposed strategies for Asia-Pacific teacher education collaboration, including the promotion of cross-national teacher education projects, the establishment of research networks, and the organization of international conferences and scholarly exchanges.
A Key Platform for Asia-Pacific Teacher Education Research
Since its establishment, APATE has brought together colleges of education and centers for teacher education from universities across Taiwan, attracting a broad range of academic institutions and education researchers. Through international conferences and academic exchange activities, APATE has achieved meaningful regional collaboration outcomes and has become a central platform for dialogue between theory and practice in Asia-Pacific teacher education.
WERA Council Approval Marks a Major Milestone
APATE submitted its application for WERA membership in September 2022 and presented the rationale for its application to WERA board members during the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting held in Philadelphia in April 2023. Following review and recommendation by the WERA Executive Committee, the application was unanimously approved at the WERA Council meeting held on October 31, 2025. In November of the same year, APATE received formal notification from the WERA Secretariat confirming its official membership, marking a major milestone in the association’s international development.
Looking Ahead: Connecting Taiwan, the Asia-Pacific, and the World
As a WERA member, APATE will continue to deepen international collaboration, advance research on teacher education theory and practice in the Asia-Pacific region, and organize additional international conferences and academic exchanges. The association will also encourage Taiwanese education researchers to actively engage in global education issues. Moving forward, APATE aims to position Taiwan as a core hub, connect the Asia-Pacific region, and collaborate with international partners to promote the sustainable development of teacher education and education research worldwide.