The dignitaries at the signing ceremony at SOAS – photo provided by SOAS

SOAS University of London boasts a thriving Taiwan Studies Programme which was established in 1999. SOAS University of London and the Education Division of the Taipei Representative Office in the UK held a ceremony on July 8, 2024 for the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU), to continue the support for the Taiwan Studies Programme provided by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education. This is the sixth time that the two parties have entered into such an MOU.

The programme encompasses academic research, teaching, and activities such as conferences, seminars, workshops, and a Summer School, pertaining to a wide range of Taiwan-related topics in disciplines that include social sciences, politics, economics, and science and technology. The Taiwan Studies Programme at SOAS also remains the sole provider of an MA in Taiwan Studies degree in the English-speaking world.

The MOU, reaffirming both parties’ commitment to supporting Taiwan Studies at SOAS, was signed by Andy Cheu-An Bi, Director of the Education Division, representing Taiwan’s Ministry of Education, and by Shona Aitken, Director of Advancement at SOAS.

Professor Dafydd Fell, Director of the Centre of Taiwan Studies, and Professor Graeme Were, Dean of the College of Law, Anthropology and Politics, expressed their deep appreciation for Taiwan’s continued support. They said that this partnership plays a significant part in enabling the SOAS Taiwan Studies Programme to deliver world-class education in this specialised field.

SOAS has also played a key role in the broader academic community. It founded the European Association of Taiwan Studies’ annual conference in 2004 and continues to facilitate scholarly exchanges, fostering a deeper understanding of Taiwan across Europe.

With this ongoing support from Taiwan and the dedicated efforts of the university’s faculty and staff, the SOAS Taiwan Studies Programme will continue its work, helping to nurture the next generation of scholars and experts committed to exploring Taiwan’s rich and diverse heritage.