The EU Centers program added a Taiwanese consortium to its network on Friday, with seven local universities led by National Taiwan University (NTU) launching a Taiwanese EU Center.
The aim of the four-year program, based at the NTU campus, is to create a foothold for EU studies at Taiwan’s institutes for higher education and to serve as a resource for information on Europe for a broader audience.
The seven participating universities will also launch EU study programs at the undergraduate or graduate levels.
Taiwan is the third East Asian country to join the EU Centers program, which was launched in 1998 and is funded by the European Commission.
EU FUNDING
The European Commission is providing a grant of 1.1 million euros (US$1.54 million) over the next four years for the project, while the rest of the budget will be covered by the participating institutes: NTU and National Chengchi, National Chung Hsing, National Sun Yat-sen, National Dong Hwa, Tamkang and Fu Jen Catholic universities.
The EU Center will offer workshops and seminars on EU policies as well as summer classes for high school teachers on topics related to Europe.
An opening ceremony was attended by representatives from the European Commission and the European Parliament, as well as Minister of Foreign Affairs Francisco Ou (歐鴻鍊), Minister of Education Cheng Jei-cheng (鄭瑞城), the presidents of the seven universities and members and directors of European offices in Taipei.
The collaborative effort marks a significant step in EU-Taiwan cooperation, Ou said.
The EU Center “Taipei characterizes the way in which relations between Taiwan and the EU have continued to expand,” Ou said.
ACADEMIC EXCHANGES
“Taiwan and Europe have a lot to offer each other,” said James Moran, director for Asia of the Directorate General for External Relations of the European Commission. “This center provides a chance to make a difference.”
The ceremony, hosted by the European Economic and Trade Office, featured a performance of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ode to Joy in English, French and Mandarin by a Taipei children’s choir.
Cheng said approximately 2,500 students from Europe are studying in Taiwan and 30,000 Taiwanese students in Europe, adding that the center would strengthen academic ties.
The EU Center network in the Asia-Pacific region includes South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
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