Pursuit of Excellence in a Networked Society gives an overview of
research and practice, describing and exploring efforts toward
continuous improvement in programming to promote excellence. The talent
development of students and teachers is a hot topic in today's
knowledge-based society which increasingly demands innovative,
reflective, and globally-aware citizens. Educational programmes
especially designed to prepare academically motivated students for their
future role now wrap around the globe. Therefore, in order to support
continuous growth and opportunities for challenging our advanced
learners, we have opened up new ways for sharing knowledge and to
encourage the building up of partnerships and conversations between
researchers and teachers. The Research Centre for Talent Development in
Higher Education and Society, headed by Marca Wolfensberger and based at
Hanze University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands, organised the
first international conference "Evoking Excellence in Higher Education
and Beyond". As Joseph Renzulli says in the foreword, this conference
brought together scholars and educators from around the world to share
their work in promoting high-level learning experiences. Presenters
discussed their research and practical efforts in honours programmes,
gifted programmes, and other contexts aimed at evoking excellence. This
book offers a selection of the work of those presenting at this
conference. Across six chapters, the following topics are discussed:
teaching strategies, culture of excellence, students' perspectives,
professional excellence, ethics and intercultural perspectives, and
giftedness across educational sectors. The book offers readers a
comprehensive view of the field of excellence in education as well as an
overview for readers interested in setting-up initiatives to foster
excellence among their own students and employees.
