Taiwan Education and Research Program founding Director, Edward McCord, meets with President Ma Ying-jeou the morning after Taiwan’s 2012 presidential elections.
Taiwan Education and Research Program
The Taiwan Education and Research Program was established in 2004 to promote and support academic and policy-related study and research on the history, international relations, and the contemporary political, economic and social development of Taiwan.
The need for more focused and advanced study of Taiwan arises from Taiwan’s unique international position and internal development. Taiwan’s troubled relationship with the People’s Republic of China remains a key issue affecting the foreign policy of the United States and creates broader security concerns for the entire Asia-Pacific region. At the same time, Taiwan’s distinctive experience in areas such as democratization and economic development has made Taiwan a model for other societies and a rich field for comparative study.
One primary and continuing goal of the Taiwan Education and Research Program has been the creation and support of the Taiwan Resource Center at the George Washington University’s Gelman Library. The Program also sponsors a seminar series, the Taiwan Forum, organized in 2007 to promote discussion on current Taiwan affairs. Finally the Program collaborates with the Sigur Center to bring other Taiwan-related programming to the GW campus.
Recent event highlights:
Cultural Exchange through Dance (2017 – 2018): A two-way exchange program for students from GW’s Department of Theatre and Dance and the Dance Department at the National Taiwan University of Arts to promote cross-cultural enrichment and collaboration through master classes and final exhibition with performances. GW seniors were interviewed in “From Taiwan, Dance Students Look to the Future.”
Spotlight Taiwan (2019): Film screenings and lecture series on Screening Taiwan: Multiculturalism and Identity Politics promoted a deeper, more nuanced understanding of Taiwan and its multifaceted culture to the greater DC community. Events held during the fall semester included film screenings, workshops, and lectures offered by internationally-renowned scholars of Taiwanese culture.
Pictured: Dr. Guo-Juin Hong (Duke University) lectures on Homecoming in Times of Displacement: ‘Our Neighbor’ and Emerging Realism in Post-1949 Taiwan Cinema.
Contact Us
The Taiwan Education and Research Program operates under the Sigur Center for Asian Studies at the George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs. The program was founded by Edward A. McCord, Professor Emeritus, and is currently directed by Liana Chen, Assistant Professor of Chinese Language and Literature. For comments on or inquiries or inquiries about the Taiwan Education and Research Program, please contact Liana Chen at liachen@gwu.edu.
