TAIPEI (TVBS News) — In a major boost to Taiwan studies within Europe, Trier University, Bochum University, and Tuebingen University have embarked on an extensive four-year research initiative known as "Taiwan as a Pioneer" (TAP).
The groundbreaking TAP project was kicked off in February 2022, supported by Germany's Federal Ministry of Education and Research, and has been allocated a budget of approximately NT＄68 million.
Researchers have already made significant strides since the project's inception, including activities from workshops, fieldwork in Green Island, to funding of scholars' trips to Taiwan for immersive studies, aiming to heighten the profile of Taiwan research across academic circles, enhancing resources and visibility.
Josie-Marie Perkuhn, the program's coordinator, lauded Taiwan's vanguard role in numerous areas including pandemic response, language policy, and participatory democracy. She also revealed plans for the publication of a handbook on Taiwan research methodologies by 2025, a first for European academia.