The Graduate Institute of Education at National Chengchi University (NCCU) was established in 1954, making it one of the university's first four graduate institutes after its re-establishment in Taiwan. Originally named the Institute of Civic Education, it was renamed the Graduate Institute of Education in 1955. It holds the distinction of being the first institute of its kind in Taiwan, pioneering education research and professional training.
That same year, the undergraduate program began admitting students, setting a precedent for diversified teacher training and affirming the Institute’s leadership in Taiwan's education sector. The undergraduate program aims to cultivate outstanding secondary school teachers and educational administrators, while the master's program focuses on developing educational research professionals. To elevate the academic quality of education research in Taiwan, a doctoral program was launched in 1977. Starting in the 1996 academic year, the department integrated all levels of education—from undergraduate to doctoral programs—into a systematic and coherent curriculum designed to nurture independent, research-oriented professionals.
To meet the needs of in-service educators, an Executive Master's Program in School Administration was introduced in 1999, targeting principals, directors, and senior administrators in secondary schools. This program has been under the College of Education since 2002. Over the years, the Department has produced numerous distinguished alumni, including prominent scholars, innovative school leaders, exceptional educators, renowned publishers, and even a Minister of Education, all of whom have played vital roles in shaping the educational landscape of Taiwan.
Before general universities in Taiwan were permitted to offer teacher training programs, our Department was the only non-normal (non-teacher-training) university department simultaneously responsible for both pre-service teacher training and in-service teacher development. Beginning in 1967, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the Department trained secondary school teachers to support the implementation of the Nine-Year Compulsory Education Policy in Taipei. It also offered numerous teacher training programs during summer and evening sessions, producing generations of outstanding secondary educators.
Furthermore, at the request of the Ministry of Education, NCCU partnered with National Taiwan University, National Chung Hsing University, and National Cheng Kung University to provide education credit courses for students in other disciplines to obtain teaching qualifications. After the Ministry terminated these joint education programs, the Department launched its own Minor in Education program in 1987—the only such program in Taiwan at the time—open to all NCCU students. Following the 1994 revision of Taiwan's teacher education policy, the Department established a formal teacher education curriculum based on its prior experience with the education minor.
Between 1980 and 1994, the Department was also unique as a non-normal university in offering public-funded teacher training for approximately half of its students.
Regarding in-service teacher development, the Department began offering credit courses in 1967 to help probationary teachers obtain full certification. These efforts expanded over time into various summer, weekend, and evening programs. By the late 1970s, NCCU, along with National Taiwan Normal University, pioneered advanced-level 40-credit graduate courses—including programs held in Hualien and on weekends—for certified teachers seeking professional advancement. These initiatives laid the groundwork for what would later become formal teacher training and development centers.
