Ti-han Chang
I would like to begin by expressing my heartfelt thanks to the members of EATS for entrusting me with the role of Secretary General. I am especially grateful to the current Executive Board—Professor Corrado Neri, Professor Ann Heylen, Dr Wafa Ghermani, Dr Kristina Kironska, Dr Stefano Pelaggi, and Dr Daniele Buonomo—for placing their confidence in me. My predecessor, Dr Isabelle Cockel, also deserves particular mention, for she has offered me more encouragement and guidance than I could have hoped for. Looking back, I also feel indebted to the many former Board members with whom I had the chance to collaborate since 2022, when I first became involved in organising an EATS annual conference. These experiences reminded me of what EATS stands for: not only as a platform for advancing Taiwan Studies in Europe, but also as a genuine community where professional exchange is nurtured by generosity and friendship.
This year, 2024–25, is personally a very special one for me. After dedicating seven years of my early academic career to the University of Central Lancashire, I have recently joined the Taiwan Studies team at SOAS, University of London. Transitions of this kind are rarely straightforward: they bring difficult decisions as well as fresh opportunities. Amidst all these changes, however, EATS has been a constant presence, supporting me both academically and emotionally. It was through EATS that I first realised the possibility of a career in Taiwan Studies. I still vividly remember attending my first EATS conference in 2013 as a doctoral student, listening to inspiring keynote lectures and engaging in vibrant panel discussions. In those moments, I saw the contours of a field I wanted to dedicate myself to.
My subsequent journey with EATS has been one of intellectual growth and lasting friendships. Since joining the Board three years ago, I have been fortunate not only to deepen my knowledge of Taiwan Studies as an academic field but also to observe first-hand how an international scholarly association sustains itself with vision and commitment. On a personal level, I have benefited enormously from the colleagues and friends I have met within and through EATS—people who have generously offered advice on my career path, provided encouragement in moments of uncertainty, and engaged in stimulating conversations across different disciplines. This combination of warmth and academic rigour is, I believe, what makes EATS a special community.
Looking ahead to my time as Secretary General, I hope to build on the work of my predecessors and to strengthen the role of EATS as a supportive, inclusive, and globally connected academic home for Taiwan Studies. My vision rests on two key priorities. First, I would like us to continue encouraging the participation of young scholars. Having myself started my EATS journey as a postgraduate student, I know how transformative it can be to present at our conferences, to receive constructive feedback, and to feel part of a larger scholarly conversation. The Young Scholar Awards and the MA panels have been valuable platforms for this purpose, and year after year we see enthusiastic participation. Yet there remains room to grow, especially in attracting students from a wider range of institutions and regions. At present, our MA and YSA panel submissions come predominantly from students based in Western and Central European institutions. I hope we can encourage more postgraduate students from outside this immediate sphere to join us, and in doing so, broaden the horizons of Taiwan Studies in Europe and beyond.
Second, I would like to see EATS deepen its links with organisations and institutions outside Europe. One of our long-standing missions is to foster scholarly exchanges with colleagues in Taiwan, Japan, North America, and elsewhere. Building on the networks established over the past two decades, we have a great opportunity to move toward joint initiatives—workshops, seminars, and even collaborative projects—co-organised with Taiwan-based partners. Such ventures will not only raise EATS’s international profile but also create meaningful spaces for dialogue across different academic contexts. They will open new opportunities for our members, from collaborative research grants to shared projects, and, importantly, they will help us continue to attract young scholars who see EATS as a bridge between their local institutions and a wider global community.
Of course, none of these plans can be realised without the commitment and involvement of our members. The strength of EATS has always been collective: the shared dedication of those who organise and fund our conferences, mentor students, review submissions, contribute to our newsletter, or simply attend and enrich our discussions. As Secretary General, my role is not to chart a path alone but to ensure that we walk it together.
As we look to the coming years, I feel a sense of gratitude and excitement—gratitude for the many colleagues, friends, and mentors who have shaped my journey within EATS, and excitement for what lies ahead as we continue to grow as an association. Taiwan Studies is a field that thrives on diversity, curiosity, and dialogue, and EATS remains at its heart in Europe and beyond. As Secretary General, I look forward to working with the Board and our members to carry this shared mission forward. I believe EATS is not only a hub of academic excellence but also a community where every member feels welcome and inspired.