2026 Taiwan Studies Programme for European Officials (Hosted by National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan)

1.     Programme

This Programme aims to enhance multi-level and cross-sectoral exchanges between Taiwan and European countries. It seeks to provide European government officials with a comprehensive understanding of Taiwan’s political, economic, educational, social, and cultural landscape, as well as Mandarin language learning. Through well-structured thematic talks, participants will gain a systematic understanding of Taiwan’s multi-dimensional development and challenges in a globalized context. The Programme will also offer Mandarin classes tailored to different proficiency levels to enhance participants' practical language skills. Visits to government ministries will provide insights into Taiwan’s international cooperation strategies and policy initiatives, while cultural excursions will allow participants to experience Taiwan’s diverse heritage and historical richness.

2.     Qualification

Full-time government officials from European countries.

3.     Date, Offering and Coverage

• Date: 9-20 August 2026
• Availability: 35 officials
• Coverage:
  • Travel Expense: One Europe-Taiwan economy class round-trip airline ticket of up to €1,700, to be reserved by accepted The flights should follow a direct route between the two locations, allowing for possible layovers, but must not transit through China, Hong Kong, or Macau.
  • Hotel accommodation of 9-19 August 2026 (11 nights, check out on 20 August), to be reserved by the host

4. Programme Content

The Programme is divided into four main components:

• Talks and Seminar:
  • Talks covering key themes of Taiwan: education, politics, economy, and society and culture.
  • A seminar featuring European scholars based in Taiwan, sharing their insights on global security, Taiwan-China relations, Taiwan-EU economic development, or digital security. Participants will engage in discussions with the scholars and experts.

• Mandarin Classes:
  • Three Mandarin classes on phonetics, pronunciation, characters, writing, grammar, sentence structure, and pragmatics.
  • Participants will be divided into small groups based on their proficiency levels.

• Visits to Government Agencies and NGOs:
  • Visits to the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Kaohsiung City Government, and Taiwan EU Center.

• Cultural Visits:
  • Visits to the National Palace Museum, Taipei 101, Jiufen, Sun Moon Lake, temples and historical sites in Lukang, and Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum.

5. Programme Itinerary (Tentative)

6. Application Procedure

(1) Please complete the online application via the Link (https://forms.gle/iQxxTSsLr8UedHc6A) by 15 May 2026.

(2) Items required to be uploaded with the application:

• Curriculum Vitae
• One reference letter from your workplace
• One photo

(3) The final result will be announced by 15 June 2026, and the applicants will be informed individually.

7. Additional Information

Once accepted, please note the following:

• The Programme is designed for government officials from European countries to gain an in-depth and multi-faceted understanding of Taiwan and its current development. While participants are welcome to have partners and/or family accompany them to Taiwan at their own expense, requests for partners/family to participate in any part of the Programme cannot be accommodated.
• Participants who choose to modify their flight booking or cancel their trip will be solely responsible for any costs incurred.
• To maximize the benefits of the Programme, participants are strongly encouraged to attend all talks, courses and activities organized by the host university without absence.

8. Contact

For questions, please contact:

Ms. Vivian Chung

Office of International Affairs

National Sun Yat-sen University

70, Lien-hai Road, Kaohsiung 804201

Taiwan

Tel: +886 7 525 2633

E-mail: vivhwchung@mail.nsysu.edu.tw