A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Education Division, Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre (TECC) and FLAME University in Pune to start Taiwan Studies Project, first such project in an Indian university, on Monday.

The MoU was signed by the Director of Education Division, TECC, Peters Chen and Prof. Roger Liu of the FLAME University, in the presence of Dr. Dishan Kamdar, Vice-Chancellor, FLAME University, and Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre Representative Ambassador Baushaun Ger, Deputy Representative Dr. Mumin Chen, Secretary Ms. Jen-Chun Tsai, Science Division Director Dr. Chin-Tsan Wang, Assistant Director Ms. Ellie Chiang, Ms. Manjeet Kripalani, Executive Director, Gateway House and many scholars.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Education initiated the Taiwan Study Project in 2003 to work with top universities in the world including Japan’s Waseda University, Boston University, UC Berkley University, Cambridge University, etc. The project aims at expanding the knowledge of international scholars about Taiwan. In addition to social sciences, politics, or technology, the project includes getting to know about Taiwan’s fine arts, history, politics, society, economy, films or anything related to Taiwan.

FLAME University’s research theme focuses on democratic governance which India and Taiwan share. The two countries believe that democracy is not only restricted to politics but also plays an important role even amidst the pandemic and other public policies too.

During the roundtable organized by Dr. Roger Liu, scholars and experts including the Gateway House, discussed political, educational and technological development and its lessons for Indo-Taiwan relations.

Ambassador Ger praised the university for providing liberal education. He also congratulated FLAME university for this initiative and hoped that more academic links between the two democracies would happen. He also spoke about the possible actions that can be taken in the future to strengthen bilateral ties.

Thanking the participants Dr Kamdar mentioned how liberal arts is emerging as a new era of the education system. He said that it is a holistic education system that provides development to the students. He stated that getting to know about a different country, their values, their system, etc. can be a good learning experience and hoped that it would benefit both scholars and students.

In the roundtable, Peters Chen spoke about how the education collaboration would benefit maintaining good relations between both the countries. He also stated that this “Oxford of the East” has been hosting a teacher from Taiwan for teaching Mandarin to its students. With this new project, there will be more seminars, workshops and publications in the near future.

(Source: https://theasialive.com/flame-university-launches-taiwan-studies-project/2021/29/)