Creativity, Talent and Excellence

This volume reflects the multiplicity of perspectives in the theory and practice of creativity, while it is broadly accepted that the dynamism of humanity’s responses to our evolving scientific, social and environmental needs depends on our creativity. It examines the central issues that animate the themes of creativity, talent development and excellence in schools and in the workplace, as well as analysing their related socio-cultural activities and processes. Forged in the workshops of a number of conferences and symposia, this collection represents in itself a creative partnership between European and Asian academics. Thus it includes contributions from various cultural and organizational settings, as well as chapters that enhance our conceptual models of creativity in both learning and teaching.

The contributing authors recognize that exploring the nature of creativity necessitates a new paradigm in research and praxis in which integration, collaboration, and the synthesis of knowledge and expertise are key factors. Their chapters detail the results of studies relating to to creativity, talent, school excellence, team and goal setting, innovation and organizational excellence, resilience, self-regulation, and personal epistemology. Clearly defined sections take on discrete aspects of the topic that include a vital assessment of the challenges that lie ahead in fostering the creativity, talent and excellence of the young and in doing so, allowing them to play a positive and innovative role in a variety of social contexts. 

'The evolution of research on the interface between creativity and culture now continues with the 2012 publication of Creativity, Talent and Excellence. As evidenced by the chapters in the present volume, whether their focus is on the classroom or the workplace, scholars from around the globe are showing an exciting and newfound commitment to the construction of models that best capture the development and cultivation of creativity in their own nations.'
 – Professor Beth Hennessey, Weselley College, USA

'We would like to express gratitude to the editor and authors of this volume who give us an opportunity to think around some essential issues of creativity. Other readers may have same experiences like us from different points of view.'
 – Professor (emeritus) Akio Kikuchi, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan.

Tan, Ai-Girl has been a faculty of the Nanyang Technological University Singapore from 1995. She was a graduate scholar of Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan (Iwatani Foundation) and Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Germany (German Academic Exchange Service, DAAD). In 2008, she was invited to assume a visiting professor position at the Department of Psychology, LMU sponsored by DAAD. In 2011, she spent one semester as a visiting professor at the Department of Asian Studies, Kansai Gaidai University, Osaka, Japan. Between 2006 to present, she delivered invited lectures and keynote addresses on creativity and talent at universities in Asia (China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and Taiwan) and in Europe (Germany and Italy). She is a life member of the Educational Research Association (Singapore) and Autistic Association (Singapore), a full member of the Japan Creativity Society, American Educational Research Association, Association of Psychological Science, and an advisory panel of the Talent Development and Excellence, a journal of the International Research Association of the Talent Development and Excellence. She organized two creativity conferences in collaboration with a professor at LMU (September, 2008, sponsored by DAAD; June 2010, sponsored by University Funds), and chaired numerous international symposiums on creativity. Her research areas include creativity, multicultural education, well-being, excellence and talent. She has coached more than 30 Master and Ph.D. theses.