The foundation works in close cooperation with government education offices and core institutions in order to establish priorities and contribute to the long-term development of education. Several ongoing projects relate to faculty training. Some schools send groups of teachers for in-service training at institutions elsewhere in China, while others bring visiting lecturers or trainers to introduce new material and methodology. The establishment of awards to encourage excellence in teaching is another approach that schools use to raise standards.

A result of faculty training is that it enables colleges to set up new curricula. For example, Trace Foundation has funded a computer instructor training program at the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei, Anhui Province. For the academic year 2002-2003, 22 of the instructors were relocated to Northwest Industrial University in Xi'an, Shanxi Province, while 6 instructors continued to study in Hefei. This degree program has included teachers from institutions across northwest China. Having qualified teachers has assisted Northwest Nationalities University and Qinghai Normal University to open computer-training centers to teach computer science in Tibetan. Business management and law are other fields in which the foundation is helping to train teaching staff, thereby expanding the choice of majors for college students.

The foundation supplements faculty training by providing partner institutions with teaching tools, such as text and reference books, and technological equipment. Similarly, we support professional training by cooperating with publishing houses and educational institutions to compile and publish reference books and textbooks, and to develop new materials. These projects are often linked to faculty and curriculum development. For example, teachers have donated their time in order to translate teaching materials for computer science courses as a service to the community. Projects to develop teaching tools may interconnect with the foundation's Publishing and Reading Project.

Trace Foundation makes selective computer hardware grants. Projects in the field of information technology are aimed primarily at skills acquisition, emphasizing computer literacy as a tool to facilitate other learning. Applications for such grants must show that they provide a large group of users with the opportunity to learn computer skills.

Recent Grants in Institutional Development

Northwest Nationalities University
Lanzhou, Gansu Province

Awards for outstanding teachers, in the form of teacher training opportunities and publishing assistance, to ten outstanding Northwest Nationalities University teachers every year over a five-year period. This project was jointly funded by Trace Foundation and Northwest Nationalities University, which contributed matching funds of $6,173.

Amount of Support: $6,173

Northwest Nationalities University
Lanzhou, Gansu Province

For a newly established three-year business management training program that will send teachers from Northwest Nationalities University and other institutions to the Science and Technology University of China in Hefei, Anhui Province, and for publication of accompanying business textbooks. Northwest Nationalities University selected participants and paid salaries, bonuses, and health insurance during training.

Amount of Support: $98,314

Northwest Nationalities University
Lanzhou, Gansu Province

For a computer science training program to send teachers from Northwest Nationalities University and other institutions to the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei, Anhui Province, and for accompanying textbooks. Northwest Nationalities University selected participants and paid salaries, bonuses, and health insurance during training, and provided a staff member to teach a class on a Tibetan computer application for three months.

Amount of Support: $89,982

Qinghai Law and Political Science College / Central Political Science and Law University Collaboration
Xining (Siling), Qinghai (Tsong'on) Province and Beijing Municipality

For scholarships to send a total of 11 instructors from the Qinghai Law and Political Science College to study for a second Bachelor's degree in law at the Central Political Science and Law University in Beijing Municipality and for translation of textbooks. Local partners selected participants and paid their transportation fees, salaries, bonuses, and health insurance during training.

Amount of Support: $85,727

Qinghai Law and Political Science College / Central Political Science and Law University Collaboration
Xining (Siling), Qinghai (Tsong'on) Province and Beijing Municipality

Support for a 14-lecture series at Qinghai Law and Political Science College by professors from the Central Political Science and Law University in Beijing Municipality. The local partner paid for the lecture forum and publicity.

Amount of Support $16,419

Qinghai Province Nationalities Affairs Committee
Xining (Siling), Qinghai (Tsong'on) Province

To compile and publish a Tibetan dictionary of computer terminology.

Amount of Support: $6,075

Northwest Nationalities University
Lanzhou, Gansu Province

For a computer laboratory at the Tibetan Department of Northwest Nationalities University. Northwest Nationalities University provided and maintained laboratory space, provided and installed software, trained instructors, maintained equipment, and contributed $515 towards equipment purchase.

Amount of Support: $72,882

Qinghai Normal University
Xining (Siling), Qinghai (Tsong'on) Province

For a computer laboratory at the Nationalities Department of Qinghai Normal University. Qinghai Normal University provided and maintained laboratory space, provided and installed software, trained instructors, and maintained equipment.

Amount of Support: $49,938

Qinghai Tibetan Medical Institute
Xining (Siling), Qinghai (Tsong'on) Province

For compilation of 20 college level Tibetan Medicine textbooks

Amount of Support : $45,140