The Education Division of the Taipei Representative Office in the UK hosted its annual Taiwan Alumni Association (TAA) meeting to bring together past and current recipients of Taiwan Scholarships and Huayu Enrichment Scholarships. More than twenty guests attended the evening gathering, which was held on Thursday June 1, at SOAS, University of London.

The Deputy Representative, Mr Cheng Shyang-Yun, welcomed everyone, introduced himself and his colleagues, and expressed his hope that the UK’s TAA network would grow and develop as ever-increasing numbers of scholarship students seek to maintain their links with Taiwan.

Mr Alex Huang, Director of the Political Affairs Division then spoke about Taiwan’s foreign policy. He was followed by Mr Wu Yen-Chang, Assistant Director of the Consular Division, who talked through the visa application process, and also took the opportunity to promote Taiwan’s participation in the Youth Mobility Scheme.

A PowerPoint presentation was then given by Mr Max Lembke-Soh, a former Huayu Enrichment Scholarship recipient, who recently studied Mandarin at National Chengchi University for six months. Max summarised his experiences of studying in Taiwan, offering plenty of practical advice, and shared some of his favourite memories and photographs.

Afterwards, the attendees were invited to help themselves to the buffet, glasses of wine and other refreshments provided. The new scholarship recipients were able to chat to people who had previously studied in Taiwan on a scholarship and meet their fellow recipients, prior to departing for Taiwan. Taipei Representative Office staff members were on hand to respond to any remaining questions, provide hand-outs, and get to know the scholarship recipients, new and old, in person.

Photo:Current and former scholarship winners at the TAA event