Abstract

            The stated main objective of this conference is to promote scholarly exchange and international cooperation of research organizations on overseas Chinese. National Chi-nan University is pleased and honored to be invited to participate. Our university was founded in 1995 at Puli, Nantou, Taiwan, R.O.C. The objective of the university is to combine the tradition of "Chi-nan academy? founded in late Qing with the explicit purpose of educating overseas Chinese students and developing research on overseas Chinese, and the favorable conditions of Taiwan's cultural and humanistic resources. The mission statement of the university is: "Sincerity, pragmatism, profundity, perseverance: performing one's duty to benefit the world ?(Cheng,pu, hong, yi; wuben zhiyong). We expect to train our students based on the principle of "Developing solid roots in Taiwan, showing deep concern of China, and maintain global outlook.?

            As it exists now, our university has three faculties, thirteen departments, four graduate institutes, and three research centers. Approximately one half of the academic units is related to the teaching and research of overseas Chinese, particularly the Department of History, the Graduate Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, and Center for Southeast Asian Studies. Our curriculum contains many courses on overseas Chinese, and a number of our faculty members are engaged in long-term research on overseas Chinese issues, having published scores of research works. Our Center for Southeast Asian Studies publishes the Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, and the History Department's annual publication of Chi-nan Historical Studies (Chi-nan shixue) are both relevant to the study of overseas Chinese.

            In promoting international cooperation on the research and teaching of overseas Chinese affairs, our university has established linkage with the Malaysian Nanfang College, the Overseas Chinese Chongsheng University of Thailand, the Osaka Enterprise University of Japan, the Queensland University of Science and Technology, and the New York City University (Staten Island Campus). Through regional cooperation, the History Department is developing ties with research organizations in Hong Kong, Macao, southern China, Europe, America, Australia, Japan, and Southeast Asia. We intend to invite visiting scholars, developing the six main areas of our teaching and research with student exchange, formulating research projects and organizing scholayly conferences. This conference will give us the opportunity to further developing our international linkage. During the conference, we would like to present a video program introducing our university and the publications of our faculty members.

1. Prefaces

2. History of the founding of National Chi-nan University and the university's teaching and research objectives

1) The founding of the university.
2) The university's objective in teaching and research.

1) Departments, institutes, and other organizations relevant to overseas Chinese studies.
2) The curricula and faculty relating to overseas Chinese studies.
3) Library collections.
4) Research publications.
    (1) Monographs.
    (2) Other publications.
5)  Projects in progress.
    (1) International cooperation on teaching and research.
    (2) Research projects engaged by faculty members.
    (3) Collection of historical material undertaken by the Department of History.

1) To promote the teaching and research on overseas Chinese in Taiwan.
2) Seeking international cooperation with organizations of shared interest.