International Research Association for Talent Development and Excellence
The International Research Association for Talent Development and Excellence (IRATDE) is a non-profit professional organization of international scientists in the fields of talent development, creativity, innovation and excellence. Founded in 2008, the IRATDE seeks to promote collaboration and cooperation between scholars, professionals, and organizations to further its goals. Chief among these goals is to initiate and support research, disseminate research findings, develop and evaluate educational programs, and to gather scholars and professionals in the fields of talent development, excellence, creativity and innovation.
Executive committee
President - Prof. Abdullah Aljughaiman. Director of the National Research Center for Giftedness and Creativity. Dean of the Institute of Research and Consulting. King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Vice President - Prof. Heidrun Stoeger. Professor of Education. Chair for School Research, School Development and Evaluation. University of Regensburg, Germany.
Secretary General - Prof. Albert Ziegler. Professor of Psychology. Head of Educational Psychology at the Institute of Psychology and Education. University of Ulm, Germany.
Treasurer - Prof. Jiannong Shi. Director of the Division of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Director of the Research Center for Supernormal Children, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. People's Republic of China.
Executive Officer - Prof. Wilma Vialle. Professor in Educational Psychology and Associate Dean in the Faculty of Education, University of Wollongong. Australia.
Activities
Conference and Symposia
The IRATDE hosts an international conference biennially on gifted and talented children, innovation and invention, and excellence across domains. The conference is held during odd years typically during the months of September through November. The first biennial IRATDE conference was entitled the International Conference on the Cultivation and Education of Creativity and Innovation and was held in Xi'an China (October 30 - November 2).[1] The second IRATDE conference is scheduled in Jubail, Saudi Arabia from November 26–30, 2011. In addition, the IRATDE periodically hosts scientific symposia, such as the symposium entitled Nurturing Giftedness Starts Early hosted at King Faisal University in Saudi Arabia from May 31 through June 2, 2010.[2]
Publications
Journal
Talent Development & Excellence is the official peer-reviewed scholarly journal published by the International Research Association of Talent Development and Excellence (IRATDE). The journal is currently published twice annually and presents articles containing original research or theory in the fields of talent development, excellence, innovation or expertise.[3]
Newsletter
Talent Talks is the official newsletter of the International Research Association of Talent Development and Excellence. Talent Talks is an informal venue for IRATDE members to discuss issues related to their fields.
Membership
The International Research Association of Talent Development and Excellence currently includes approximately 400 members from over 60 countries. IRATDE offers Full Membership for scientists and researchers and Affiliated Memberships for organizations and practitioners. Applications for membership are available on their official web site.[4]