MOE, Harvard University to launch 3-year project promoting Taiwan Studies

2021/02/18

The Ministry of Education and U.S.-based Harvard University are set to launch a three-year research initiative promoting Taiwan studies as part of government efforts to boost academic exchanges and cooperation between the two sides, according to the MOE Feb. 16.
 
 Based on a memorandum of understanding signed earlier this year by the Education Division of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston and Harvard’s Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies, the project is set to launch in August and will be hosted by the center’s Executive Director Dan Murphy.
 
 Under the pact, the project will annually offer two grants to scholars conducting research in Taiwan, fund advanced language training for six Harvard graduate students and sponsor participation in short-term research programs at Harvard for eight local students.
 
 The project will additionally provide support for Harvard scholars holding conferences, seminars and other activities relevant to Taiwan studies, as well as finance publication of research on Taiwan or by local authors. At least five yearly events such as talks, forums and film screenings will be staged at the center for both the academic community and general public.
 
 According to the MOE, the arrangement will bring about closer intellectual collaboration while strengthening understanding of Taiwan’s culture, economy, history, language, society and politics among people of the U.S.
 
 Established by Professor John King Fairbank in 1955, the Fairbank Center serves as Harvard’s hub for disseminating research on China and Taiwan, sharing authoritative information with the media, policymakers and the public.

Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)