The Sun Yat-Sen America Center to Open June 1, 2000 in Kaohsiung

PR0026E | Date: 2000-05-30

The American Institute in Taiwan is very pleased to announce that after several years of planning and preparation, the formal grand opening of the Sun Yat-sen America Center at National Sun Yat-sen University will be held on June 1st, 2000. Raymond F. Burghardt, Director of the American Institute in Taiwan, and Victor W. Liu, President of National Sun Yat-sen University, will jointly preside over the grand opening ceremony for the Center, which will take place at 9:30 a.m. on June 1st on the fourth floor of the University's library.

National Sun Yat-sen University took the initiative to establish a resource center for the study of the United States from Taiwan's perspective. The Center fits in with the University's goals and explores new forms and strategies, particularly through the new information technologies now available, in developing such an academic unit. The American Institute in Taiwan has recognized this leadership initiative and has committed key resources to help in the formation and operation of the Center. It is appropriate that the America Center in Kaohsiung be named after Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the champion of so many ideals for which the Center stands.

The formal opening of the Sun Yat-sen America Center marks the rich and positive tradition of educational and cultural exchange between the people of Taiwan and the people of the United States. As a unique resource center for the study of the United States, Sun Yat-sen America Center will assist local governments and social organizations in providing valuable information and in-depth research on American society and culture, political and economic relationships as well as scientific and technological phenomena. Although the Center is located at National Sun Yat-sen University, it wishes to serve all the institutions of higher learning in southern Taiwan.

A distinguished Board of Directors drawn from the academic and business communities will govern the Center. A management committee will be set up under the directorship of a university academic administrator who, with the assistance of a Fulbright scholar in charge of research and development and an administrative assistant, will see to the daily running of the Center and its activities.

For more information about the Sun Yat-sen America Center, please contact Center Director Dr. Francis So, Ph.D., Professor of English and Director of Library, National Sun Yat Sen University (Tel: 07-525-2448; 07-525-2000 ext. 2400 or 3137) or access the Sun Yat Sen America Center website at: www.sysac.nsysu.edu.tw