Stanford and National Taiwan University Hold Taiwan Conference
Stanford University and National Taiwan University have teamed up to hold a conference discussing Taiwan's place in the world. Stanford's partnership with NTU comes after the American university launched a Taiwan studies program last year.
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Ntu-Stanford Joint Conference: ‘Taiwan Forward’ Discusses Country’s Place in the World
Two academic powerhouses, National Taiwan University (NTU) and Stanford University, have united for the "Taiwan Forward" conference in Taipei, exploring Taiwan's role in the global landscape and how the country can leverage its strengths to contribute to society.
The conference, held as part of Stanford's newly launched Taiwan Program, aims to shine a spotlight on Taiwan, a nation often overlooked in global academic and policy discussions. Established just last year, the Taiwan Program seeks to foster exchanges between Stanford and Taiwanese institutions, creating opportunities for collaboration and deeper understanding between the U.S. and Taiwan.
"Taiwan has long been overlooked and under-studied in academic and policy circles," said Gi-wook Shin, a representative from Stanford’s Taiwan Program. His words set the tone for the discussions, which included prominent leaders from various fields such as science, health, business, and academia. Among the high-profile participants was Steve Chen, the co-founder of YouTube, who joined the event as one of the panelists.
The goal of the "Taiwan Forward" conference is to examine Taiwan’s place in the world, looking at how the country can leverage its advanced technologies and growing international influence. Tiffany Chang, a Stanford student, spoke about the cross-cultural exchange facilitated by the event. “We’re bridging this gap between NTU and Stanford, what it means to be Taiwanese. I guess growing up in Taiwan, versus the U.S., differences contrast each other,” she said.
Taiwanese students also shared their thoughts on the significance of such a program. “There really aren’t many programs like this that focus on the Taiwanese experience in academic circles,” said Louis Ko, an NTU student. “So I’m glad this program exists,” he added, expressing enthusiasm about the opportunity to engage in the exchange.
The academic collaboration between Stanford and NTU also serves as a vehicle for broader diplomatic engagement between Taiwan and the United States. Raymond Greene, Director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), highlighted the growing importance of the U.S.-Taiwan relationship, particularly in advanced technology development. “The United States and Taiwan are leading partners in advanced technology development. And for the professors in the room, I think it’s significant that Taiwan is now the number 1 source of foreign students in the United States on a per-capita basis,” Greene stated, underscoring the deepening ties between the two nations.
Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung also participated in the conference, offering his perspective on Taiwan’s international relations. “Together, we will continue to share a better future. Not just... MAGA. Or America First. Not just to make America a safer, stronger and more prosperous nation, but Taiwan also,” Lin remarked.
The "Taiwan Forward" conference was a celebration of the intellectual and cultural exchanges that continue to shape Taiwan’s place in the global community. With contributions from both sides, the event provided a platform for ideas to merge, aiming for a brighter, more connected future.
