TRCC launches in UK, French universities

2015-04-10

A Taiwan Resource Center for Chinese Studies was launched April 7 at Oxford University, paving the way for expanded academic cooperation between Taiwan and the U.K., according to Taipei City-based National Central Library.

Jointly unveiled by NCL Director-General Tseng Shu-hsien and Catriona Cannon, assistant librarian of Oxford Bodleian Libraries, the facility is the 14th of its kind worldwide and the second in the U.K. following the first set up in 2012 at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.

“The establishment of the center represents a landmark development in government efforts promoting Chinese studies from Taiwan’s perspective in Europe,” Tseng said.

“Oxford is a leading institution in Chinese studies, and has maintained a great relationship with Taiwan’s academia through its successful Taiwan Studies Program,” Tseng said. “This tie-up will further enhance the visibility of Taiwan’s academic research and publications in the Western world.”

Under the partnership, NCL will provide access to its electronic resources and digital archives, as well as provide the center with audio and video recordings, digital materials and hard copy publications.

A memorandum was also concluded by NCL with Oxford on joint cataloguing of Chinese ancient books. Under the pact, NCL’s database is to include Oxford’s Chinese collection, bringing the total number of items on offer to 640,000 from 63 partner institutions worldwide.

Four days before, the first TRCC in France was inaugurated at Jean Moulin University Lyon 3, the first institution to offer Taiwan language courses in Europe. The NCL also concluded a joint cataloguing pact April 2 with the Lyon Public Library, the largest such facility in the country.

The NCL said it will continue promoting Chinese studies worldwide, and plans on launching four more TRCCs in other countries by the end of the year.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=229103&CtNode=413)