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ID: 169799

Developing Taiwan Studies Teaching Programmes in Europe and the US: The Experience of SOAS University of London and University of Texas at Austin / Fell, Dafydd

Fell, Dafydd	Journal Article
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Summary/Abstract

Over the last two decades, there has been a rapid expansion in the number of Taiwan programmes at universities in America and Europe; however, few of these Taiwan programmes have attempted to develop teaching courses. Where Taiwan courses have been introduced, they have tended to be in isolation and not well integrated into existing academic programmes. Among the universities with Taiwan programmes, only two have attempted to create comprehensive teaching programmes through which students can graduate with a degree in Taiwan studies: SOAS University of London and the University of Texas at Austin. The purpose of this paper is to compare the experiences of these two institutions in developing such niche teaching programmes. It begins with a discussion of how these two programmes first emerged and then goes on to review their distinct development trajectories and key features. The paper offers an analysis of how these two programmes were able not only to survive but also to expand their offerings and thrive in an academic environment that should be hostile to such niche programmes. It concludes with a review of the remaining challenges facing these teaching programmes.

Key Words

Area Studies ; Taiwan Studies ; Taiwan Teaching Programmes

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ID: 116640

External engagement in Taiwan studies / Sullivan, Jonathan

Sullivan, Jonathan	Journal Article
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Publication

2012.

Summary/Abstract

Although Taiwan studies is prone to prevailing trends within the broader academy and in international affairs that are outside of Taiwan scholars' control, there is one area where Taiwan scholars can raise the visibility of the field. Namely, outreach activities in which we disseminate our research and insights on Taiwan beyond the narrow confines of the field and the academy to engage external audiences. The importance of academic perspectives feeding into popular and policy debates, and the value of work that does not conform to the traditional academic currency of peer-reviewed publications are currently being debated across the academy, particularly as blogs and other online outlets have become popular venues for researchers. This article provides a report of a recent collective academic outreach activity (the Taiwan 2012 blog) and a survey of Taiwan scholars' attitudes and current practices. The article demonstrates that there is clearly a market for an authoritative academic resource on Taiwan and that such an exercise can increase the profile of the field and strengthen its collective identity. However, there are also formidable obstacles; crucially the relatively low level of value attributed by individuals to such activities.

Key Words

Taiwan Studies ; State of the Field ; External Engagement ; New and Social Media ; Academic Blogging

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ID: 112426

Mapping the Taiwan studies field / Sullivan, Jonathan; Seiler-Holmer, Gudrun

Sullivan, Jonathan	Journal Article
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Publication

2011.

Key Words

Taiwan Studies ; State of the Field ; Research Output ; Scholarly Attitudes ; Divisions

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