UTD School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences

Taiwan Studies Program at 

Karl Ho

EPPS Taiwan Studies Initiative

University of Texas at Dallas

Prepared for presentation to the 2025 Global Crossroads Conference hosted by the UTD International Center

Summary

  1. Latest developments
    1. Taiwan Research Academy (6/22/2025 - 6/28/2025)
    2. North Texas-Taiwan Technology Summit 2025
  2. Taiwan Studies Initiative
    1. Taiwan Research Academy
    2. Huayu Scholarship to study Mandarin in Taiwan
    3. Taiwan courses
    4. Dual Degree Programs
    5. Data Analytics Colloquium
    6. Keynote Speech and Events

Establishment of TSI at UTD

University leadership support:

  • UT Dallas Provost Dr. Inga Musselman

  • UT Dallas School of EPPS Dean Dr. Jennifer Holmes

  • Established the TRI under the School of EPPS in early 2023

  • This initiative stands as a testament to our shared commitment to advancing understanding and scholarship regarding Taiwan.

Ministry of Education

Taiwan Ministry of Education support since 2017:

  • Jindal School of Management

    • Scholarship

    • Faculty Training

  • School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences (since 2024)

    • Taiwan courses

    • Taiwan Research Academy

    • Huayu Scholarship

    • Conferences on Taiwan

Background

  • Taiwan Fellowship in 2018, invitation to speech and workshops in Taiwan universities

  • National Chung Hsing University in Taichung was frequent host.

  • First exchange program MOU in 2019

  • Dual Degree Program in Data Science/Social Data Analytics and Research

  • Dual Degree Program in Master Program in Public Administration

  • Other MOU/Exchange programs include:

    • National Cheng Chi University (DDP in Diplomacy)

    • National Taiwan University (Student Mobility Agreement)

  • More in progress:

    • National Defense University

    • Soochow University 

    • National Chung Cheng University  

Taiwan Research Academy

  • First launched in 2024, the Taiwan Research Academy awards outstanding US and Taiwan students to UTD campus for a week-long training camp.

  • World-renowned Taiwan scholars were invited to provide inter-disciplinary workshops training next generation of experts in Taiwan studies.

  • Concluding event was a conference convening keynote speaker and local Taiwan community leaders, opening dialogue on prospect of Taiwan research.

  • Guest speakers: 18

  • Graduates: 33

  • 2025 cohort

  • 2024 cohort

UTD Mandarin Language Center

  • University leadership support:

    • UT Dallas Bass School of Arts, Humanities and Technology Dean Dr. Nils Roemer

    • UT Dallas School of EPPS Dean Dr. Jennifer Holmes

  • Funded by the Ministry of Education, Taiwan, ROC

  • the Taiwan Huayu Language program started in early 2024.

  • Connecting the Taiwan business community, including residents and students, and promotes Huayu/Mandarin education, facilitating cross-cultural engagement and understanding.

Professor Joanne Wu

  • Dual Degree program with National Chung Hsing University, Taichung.

  • Social Data Analytics and Research Master's program at EPPS

  • Data Science Master's program in NCHU

  • Taiwan students pay Taiwan tuition to take courses at UTD

Exchange program in Data Science

Taiwan Courses

  • Spring 2024:

    • State and Society in Taiwan (Professor Joanne Wu)

    • Business (Mandarin/Chinese)
      (Professor Joanne Wu)

  • Fall 2024

    • Political Economy of Technology in East Asia (Taiwan)
      (Karl Ho with Joanne Wu)

    • Business (Mandarin/Chinese)
      (Professor Joanne Wu)

  • Spring 2025

    • Culture and Society in Taiwan (Proposed)

    • State and Society in Taiwan (Professor Joanne Wu)

    • Business (Mandarin/Chinese)
      (Professor Joanne Wu)

Taiwan and Huayu Courses

  • Visiting Assistant Professor from Taiwan, jointly supported by the School of EPPS and the UTD Bass School of Arts, Humanities and Technology (BAHT).

  • Professor Joanne Wu has been teaching multiple courses since Spring 2024

  • Responsibilities also include liaison with local community to offer Mandarin courses.

Huayu Scholarship summer program

  • Huayu travel scholarships to students from different schools in UTD to learn Mandarin, study and conduct research in Taiwan.

  • NCHU Language center will host these students

  • Three-year program

  • Collaborated with National Chung Hsing University, Taichung.

  • NCHU College of Law and Politics and UTD School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences

  • Convenes international scholars and data scientists in online seminars and workshops

  • Engage in conversation with speakers and replication of data methods and big data models.

  • Online webinars for two consecutive years

  • Hosted 16 webinars from top scholars in US and Europe

STEM and Data Science

  • Data Analytics Colloquium

    • Since 2020

    • Top data scientist/methodologist speakers from US and Europe

  • Dual Degree Program in Data Science

    • Taiwan and US exchange students pay one year of local tuition and receive two degrees

  • Since 2016, TDS has hosted five conferences/special speaker series in UTD

  • Co-edited book
  • Book chapters
  • Peer-reviewed articles
  • Inaugurated in 2016, titled by late Dr. Harold D. Clarke

    • Supported by Taiwan Studies programs (Texas,
      Illinois State)
    • Sponsored by MOE, MOFA and Taiwan community leaders
      in US
    • Four events (2016, 2018, 2019, 2020)
    • Topics: Elections, Cross-strait relations, Taiwan-US-China
      relations
    • Guest speakers from over 20 universities, crossing
      Taiwan, Europe, New Zealand and US
       
  • Inaugurated in 2016, titled by late Dr. Harold Clarke

    • Supported by Taiwan Studies programs (Texas,
      Illinois State)
    • Sponsored by MOE, MOFA and Taiwan community leaders
      in US
    • Synergized 
    • Four events (2016, 2018, 2019, 2020)
    • Topics: Elections, Cross-strait relations, Taiwan-US-China
      relations
    • Guest speakers from over 20 universities, Taiwan,
      Europe and US
       

Conclusion

  • UTD has been building strong subnational ties with Taiwan since 2018, with continued support from UTD leadership and administration and Taiwan government under different ministries.

  • We look forward to more partnerships as we endeavor to advance our shared mission and make a lasting impact on the study and understanding of Taiwan's role in the global landscape. 

GCC 2025: Taiwan Studies Initiative in UTD

By Karl Ho

GCC 2025: Taiwan Studies Initiative in UTD

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