The Center for Southeast Asia Research was launched Jan. 18 at the National University of Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan with the goal of advancing implementation of the government’s New Southbound Policy.
One of the key components of President Tsai Ing-wen’s national development strategy, the peoplecentric policy seeks to promote talent exchanges, trade and economic cooperation, resource sharing and regional connections with the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, six South Asian countries, as well as Australia and New Zealand.
“Through the integration of public and private sector resources, the center will focus on cultivating talents specializing in Southeast Asian affairs,” NUK President Wang Shyue-liang said at the inauguration ceremony.
“It will also serve as a think tank, providing insights into the economic, political and social developments of Southeast Asian countries so as to assist Taiwan firms in growing their presence in the region,” he added.
As one of its first projects aimed at expanding exchanges with the region, CSEAR will host a two-week program this summer for senior high, vocational school and university students from Vietnam. During their stay in Taiwan, participants will also have the opportunity to visit local businesses through sponsorship from the Ministry of Education.
According to Wang, the center builds on decadelong on- and off-campus efforts by NUK to bolster educational ties between Taiwan and Southeast Asia.
Examples in this regard include launching the International Executive Master of Business Administration program in 2006 for Taiwan executives working in Vietnam, hosting Thai and Vietnamese language proficiency tests on campus, and offering free massive open online courses in the two languages to locals.
The NUK center is the latest initiative by Taiwan’s tertiary institutions in support of the New Southbound Policy. Last August, the first higher education center designed to promote implementation of the policy was established at National Taipei University of Education.
In addition, a delegation comprising representatives from five local universities went on a student recruitment tour to Malaysia in early November last year. And representatives from National Taiwan University, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology and National Taiwan Normal University concluded a four-day visit to the Philippines Jan. 13 to forge stronger links in higher education. (SFC-E)
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