After Tian moved to Taiwan in 1949, he first held a teaching position in the Department of Education. Later he became chairperson of the Department of Education, then the dean of the College of Education. He founded the Graduate Institute of Education and spent his entire life cultivating talented individuals and emphasizing the importance of education research. During his later years at NTNU, he actively cultivated education researchers. Most students who graduate from the Graduate Institute of Education teach in universities; those who continue their studies overseas usually return after receiving their higher degree and take up teaching posts, there are also a substantial number of people doing research. This had been the wish of Tian which was fulfilled in his later years.

Tian emphasized the practice of Philosophy of Education. His main ideals were a comprehensive cultural overview, an optimistic attitude towards the progress of history, the creation of a moral basis for living, and a comprehensive philosophical and historical mode of thinking.

During his time in China, Tian laid down a foundation for education in Henan. After he came to Taiwan, he planned the resurrection of the "Mandarin Daily News", founded the "China Journal", and established the Graduate Institute of Education of the Taiwan Provincial University of Education. He was also the director of the Chinese Society of Education. He was a founding father of education research in Taiwan.