Welcome to the Oxford Taiwan Studies Programme, a part of the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies.
Taiwan, one of the world’s most iconic miracle economies and dynamic societies, offers a wealth of lessons to the world. It has played a vital role in igniting regional economic growth, with many aspects of mainland China’s prosperity benefiting from sustained Taiwanese investment. Situated in East Asia, Taiwan grapples with challenges similar to those faced by advanced industrial societies worldwide. It serves as a model for how 21st-century societies can innovate, cooperate, and learn from each other.
Historically, Taiwan’s economic success relied on targeted support for key industrial sectors and the ability of small and medium enterprises to tap into global production chains. In the 21st century, however, Taiwan has recognised that innovation across various sectors—economic development, technologies, education, healthcare, regulation, and more—is pivotal to its continued growth, global economic standing, and the well-being of its people. Policymakers, entrepreneurs, educators, and researchers have championed grassroots and multi-sector innovation to revitalise the economy amidst wider demographic changes and constraints posed by the People’s Republic of China. Examples of such innovation include clean transport technologies, robotics for healthcare and aged care, apps countering social media disinformation, creative industries, and public-private partnerships for social and governance innovation.
How is Taiwan’s push to innovate unfolding and transforming the economy, society, and governance? What opportunities does this create for cross-Strait, regional, and global economic ties and integration? What lessons can be learned in East Asia, the UK, Europe, and globally from Taiwan’s innovative engagement with complex social and economic problems, such as economic stagnation, environmental pollution, population aging, youth unemployment, social media disinformation, and governmental and regulatory inefficiencies? The Oxford Taiwan Studies Programme seeks to explore these questions and more through seminars, workshops, conferences, collaborations, and teaching.
