In introducing the Feb. 18 panel discussion “Taiwan 2016 Elections: Retrospect and Prospect,” Jackson School of International Studies Director Reşat Kasaba also highlighted the start of a new initiative at the School around the study of Taiwan.
Thanks to a recent major grant and a generous gift from an anonymous donor, the School plans to help bring together expertise and knowledge of Taiwan and make these resources more available to students and public.
Current ideas range from offering of courses, conferences and community events to exchange programs with higher education institutions — potentially in Taiwan itself — and across UW, that will include faculty and students. Plans include the possibility to hire a Professor whose main specialty will be Taiwan.
Kasaba noted the Jackson School since its founding in 1909 has had a strength in Asian Studies, especially East Asia, for which the School has received federal funding more or less continuously since early 1960s.
Although the School’s East Asia programs have focused mainly on Japan, China and Korea, there has been considerable strength over the years in faculty and other resources that deal with Taiwan.