Recipients of the Ministry of Education’s Excellent Teacher Awards Visit Belgium and the Netherlands
The Ministry of Education organized overseas study tours to Belgium and the Netherlands in March and April, 2026 for two groups of recipients of the 2025 Excellent Teacher Awards. The first group of outstanding teachers was led by Dr. Lin Po-Chiao 林伯樵, Chief Secretary of the Ministry of Education, and the second group of outstanding teachers was led by Administrative Deputy Minister of Education Chang Liao Wan-Chien 張廖萬堅.
As well as honoring excellence in teaching, the Excellent Teacher Awards are also intended to encourage continued professional learning and educational leadership. The Ministry hopes that giving awardees opportunities to observe international best practices and engage with teachers at overseas institutions will broaden these teachers’ global vision, and that their exchanges with leading education institutions abroad will inspire further innovation in teaching and contribute to the advancement of Taiwan’s education system. Each group visited government agencies, universities, schools, and cultural institutions to gain first-hand knowledge of their educational policies, professional development for teachers, and innovative classroom practices.
The study tours were designed with a focus on professional growth for teachers, and exchanges about international education. Each group began its tour with a visit to the Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium, where they were briefed about regional affairs and educational cooperation with Taiwan. They next visited the Department of Education and Training of the Flemish Community of Belgium, where they discussed key topics such as digital education, teacher training policies, education-related international relations, and current educational development trends, with local officials and education experts.
In Brussels, the groups also visited VUB –Vrije Universiteit Brussel, where they learned about the university’s educational development strategies and innovation initiatives, including its AI learning center, and KU Leuven. They spoke with faculty members and administrators about how institutions of higher education are integrating technology into teaching and learning, and fostering international collaboration and pedagogical innovation.
In Belgium, the groups also visited educational institutions in Ghent, where they observed teacher training and classroom practices at the HOGENT University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Flanders, and Mozaiek School, a public primary school. This gave them a deeper understanding of how teacher education, school governance, and classroom implementation are connected, and how local schools support inclusive learning environments, early childhood education, and the professional development of educators.
In the Netherlands, the groups visited Delft University of Technology and International Schools Delft to learn about the university’s teacher training, the relationship between school operations and its teacher training, and its campus-based learning resources. The teachers observed classroom teaching, and facilities at the university and schools, and engaged in discussions with local educators. These visits highlighted the importance of school-university partnerships, practical teacher training, and the effective use of learning environments to support student learning.
The very full itinerary for the study tours for each group was arranged with the assistance of the Education Division of the Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium and included visits to cultural sites, local observations, and activities to give the teachers a more comprehensive understanding of the social contexts affecting education in Belgium and the Netherlands. This all contributed to enabling them to bring fresh perspectives and ideas about practical aspects of teaching, and teachers’ continuing professional development, that could contribute to advancing education in Taiwan.
