IPoint of Departure Only few universities and institutions in Europe are currently engaged in systematic teaching and research on Taiwan: SOAS London  Taiwan Studies programme (MA programme)  Centre of Taiwan Studies, established 1999 London School of Economics  Taiwan Cultural Research programme  no MA programme

St. Anthony‘s College, Oxford University  Taiwan Studies programme  no MA programme Bochum University  Research Unit on Taiwanese Culture and Literature  no MA programme University of Vienna  Vienna Centre for Taiwan Studies  Teaching seminars on Taiwan, no MA programme

University of Ljubljana  Taiwan Research Center  no MA programme European Association of Taiwan Studies (EATS)  Established 2004  Yearly conference at different venues  Registered in Tübingen, Germany

Conclusion: Apart from the ERCCT, institutionalized Taiwan studies in Europe are currently based on:  one MA taught programme (at SOAS)  two programmes focusing on the organisation of public lectures, seminars and conferences (at LSE and, until recently, Oxford)  two research centers as parts of a university department (at SOAS and Bochum).

IIThe Idea  In order to establish contemporary Taiwan studies in Europe, more attention has to be paid to the promotion of empirical research on Taiwan, especially at the Ph.D. and postdoc level.  Postgraduate Taiwan studies should enable students to get as much research-related feedback as possible.  Students should work together and interact with established Taiwan scholars on a permanent basis in order to:

 identify interesting research fields  develop feasible research strategies  apply suitable theories  clarify and finetune methodology  critically assess research results  prepare for publications in internationally renowned publishing houses.

The European Research Center on Contemporary Taiwan Research (ERCCT) pursues these objectives by:  serving as a platform for highly qualified European and Taiwanese students who conduct empirical social science research on contemporary Taiwan, especially in the realm of law and politics, economics, society and cross-strait relations.  supporting empirical research in Taiwan by establishing close relations to first-class academic institutions and jointly operating a tutorial system for those students who travel to Taiwan to conduct fieldwork.

 inviting visiting scholars from Taiwan and Europe to give talks or lecture courses at the center, but most importantly to take part in the center’s “Taiwan colloquium” (see below) to share their theoretical and methodological expertise with students.  inviting Taiwanese Ph.D. students and postdocs to visit the ERCCT for a month on a short-term visiting programme and a Young Scholars Workshop (see below) to present their projects and join ERCCT activities.  administering our ERCCT website that includes an e-paper series on topics related to contemporary Taiwan that have been presented at the center or in the course of the ERCCT’s Young Scholars Workshops

 gradually building a comprehensive library and resource base on contemporary Taiwan studies in Tübingen with a focus on politics and law, economics, society and cross-strait relations.  helping to channel book manuscripts on contemporary Taiwan stemming from the research done by ERCCT Fellows to established international publishing houses, most notably to the Routlege Research on Taiwan Series (edited by Dafydd Fell). The ERCCT further organises  the annual Taiwan Documentary Film Festival  the annual Young Scholars’ Workshop

III.The Concept  The main objective is to promote postgraduate research on contemporary Taiwan. This mainly includes European and Taiwanese Ph.D. and postdoc candidates, but can – depending on qualification - also include M.A. students.  ERCCT Permanent Research Fellows are registered Ph.D. candidates at one of the faculties of Tübingen University or postdocs who are affiliated to the center on a permanent basis.  ERCCT Visiting Research Fellows from Europe and Taiwan are not affiliated to the University of Tübingen and stay for briefer periods, for instance one term or one academic year, depending on their own premises. The may also stay at the center on a long-term basis.

 Ph.D. students and postdocs from those of the ERCCT’s partner institutions in Taiwan that take part in the ERCCT Visiting Fellow programme can apply for a funded stay of one month.  ERCCT Associate Research Fellows reside and work at universities or academic institutions outside Tübingen and join the center's activities occasionally.  Each ERCCT Visiting Research Fellow is provided with office space and internet access, and is integrated in the ERCCT's activities. However, he/she is responsible for his/her funding.

ERCCT Research Fellowship The ERCCT offers one ERCCT Research Fellowship annually granted by the ROC Ministry of Education for talented and highly qualified postgraduates. Applicants must submit proposals for research projects that promise to produce cutting-edge research. These proposals are then reviewed by members of the ERCCT Advisory Board comprising both renowned Taiwanese and European scholars.

ERCCT Visiting Scholars Programme At least 1-2 Taiwanese or European Visiting Scholars are invited in each academic term (April 15th – July 15th; October 15th – February 15th) for at least one month. This programme is extended to more visiting scholars if co-funding is available. All invited visiting scholars are provided with accommodation, a round air ticket (Economy Class), a stipend for daily expenses, and office space They give lectures and participate in the "Taiwan colloquium“, where they can present their research in terms of both content, theory and methodology. They discuss with ERCCT Research Fellows about their projects.

ERCCT Short-term Visiting Fellow Programme The ERCCT invites each academic term (approx. 15 April – 15 July; 15 October-15 February) two Taiwanese doctoral students or postdocs from ERCCT partner institutions to stay at the center for one month. All expenses, including a living stipend, are covered by the ERCCT. Short-term visiting fellows participate in the center’s activities and are required to present their research in a Taiwan colloquium.

ERCCT Young Scholars Workshop Beginning in 2012, the ERCCT holds each year during the summer term an Young Scholars Workshop. Young Taiwan scholars (doctoral students and postdocs) from Europe and Taiwan are invited to join a workshop in Tübingen, where they present and discuss their current research. They do also participate in a cultural programme and are made familiar with the work and the different activities at the ERCCT. All expenses for selected workshop participants are covered by the ERCCT.

ERCCT Taiwan Colloquium During the summer and winter terms, students meet regularly in the “Taiwan-Colloquium” to discuss their projects in detail. Project ideas and intended field studies are communicated, applied theory and methodology scrutinized and empirical findings gathered in the field critically assessed.

ERCCT Tutorial System Both ERCCT Permanent and Visiting Fellows are entitled to take part in the tutorial system administered by the ERCCT partner institutions during their fieldwork in Taiwan. The tutorial system is not a fixed programme or structure offered by the partner institution. Besides providing office space and permitting the Visiting Fellow use the host institution’s facilities, it mainly refers to the assumed responsibility of the host institution or one specific research partner/tutor (a scholar affiliated to it) to:

 assist the ERCCT Research Fellow in gaining access to scholars and institutions relevant to his/her research topic;  integrate the Fellow, as far as possible, in the academic activities of the partner institution;  each partner institution decides about the quantity of scholars it wishes to host and communicates with the ERCCT director and managing director on the capacities available on a case-by-case basis.

ERCCT Management and Staff The ERCCT is operated by:  One Director, Prof. Gunter Schubert  One Managing Director, Dr. Stefan Fleischauer (currently replacing Mr. Stefan Braig who is on leave), responsible for the daily operations of the center  A small support team of currently three assistants The working languages at the center are English and Mandarin Chinese.

IV. Our Partners Academia Sinica  Institutum Iurisprudientiae  Institute of Political Science  Institute of Sociology National Taiwan University  College of Social Science  Department of Political Science  Department of Sociology  Taiwan Public Governance Research Center  College of Law

National Chengchi University  College of Social Sciences  Department of Political Science  Taiwan Study Center  Graduate Institute of East Asian Studies  Graduate Institute of Development Studies National Chung Hsing University  Graduate Institute of International Politics National Cheng Kung University College of Social Sciences Department of Political Science Department of Law

N ational Sun Yat-Sen University  College of Social Sciences  Institute of Political Sciences  Institute of Sociology

Major objective: Making the ERCCT a flourishing European institution of Taiwan Studies and European-Taiwanese academic dialogue Strategies:  Recruiting ERCCT Research, Visiting and Associate Fellows  Identifying Taiwanese and European Visiting Scholars  Extending the network of ERCCT partners  Joint academic activities with other European and Taiwanese institutions