• 2015-12-12

NCL Director General, Shu-hsien Tseng and Dr. Marc Boone, Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Philosophy of Ghent University (UGent), signed a memorandum of cooperation on "Taiwan Resource Centre for Chinese Studies" (TRCCS) followed by the inauguration opening ceremony on December 11. This is the NCL’s first TRCCS in Belgium and 18th TRCCS set up overseas.

Established in 1817, the University of Ghent already has 198 years of history. Its 11 faculties are composed of more than 117 departments. In the 2015 Academic Ranking of World Universities it was ranked 71. In November of this year Prof. Anne De Paepe, Rector of Ghent University led a delegation to Taiwan and sign a cooperative agreement with the Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts, as well as visit many universities in Taiwan, such as National Taiwan University, National Chengchi University, National Cheng Kung University and National Sun Yat-sen University.

From 1987 to the end of 2014, a total of 23 universities in Taiwan signed cooperation and exchange agreements with 20 universities or academic departments in Belgium. Of these, Ghent University has collaborative relationships with many universities in Taiwan.

In addition, from 1990 to the present, 9 scholars in Belgium have received research grants from Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Center for Chinese Studies to conduct research on Chinese studies or Taiwan studies in Taiwan. Thus, Ghent University and Taiwan have enjoyed a long history of friendship and academic cooperation.

In recent years, the NCL offered Ghent University Taiwanese publications displayed at the 2010 Frankfurt Book Fair, as well as the publications on Taiwan research and art which were donated by the Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium on behalf of Ministry of Education, the NCL and other institutes in Taiwan to enrich its Chinese studies collections in 2012.

In her speech, NCL Director General Tseng pointed out that it is an honor this year to deepen the collaborative relationship between NCL and UGent for the promotion of Chinese studies and Taiwan studies. University of Ghent has the Department of Oriental Languages and Cultures, with research fields including Sinology, India, Japan, and Korea. It also has a library for Sinology, Japanese, Indian and Korean research. The University of Ghent has an especially long history in Buddhist studies, with many publications published in the early 20th century. In 2007 it established the first academic Centre for Buddhist Studies in Belgium. Some professors from the university, such as Prof. Mr. Bart Dessein and Prof. Ann Heirman were invited as Visiting Scholars to Taiwan during 2006 and 2007. Thus, the buddhological research in Ghent is rooted in a long tradition of expertise. It is therefore evident that the choice of UGent to establish the TRCCS this year. The establishment of the TRCCS at UGent will not only help expand academic exchanges between Belgium and Taiwan but also expand Taiwan's influence on Chinese Studies in the international arena.

The NCL has not only 251 titles, 422 volumes of Chinese books published in Taiwan, but also provided the digital resources, including Taiwan digital archives and electronic databases, for the faculty, students, and researchers at the ANU. At the opening ceremony, Director General Tseng particularly donated replicas of The Annotated Poetry of Su Dongpo, a national treasure of the Republic of China that is more than 800 years old, and The Diamond Sutra, an only existing copy of the earliest wood block print book with dual color. These gifts will certainly enrich the collections of UGent Library. It is also a witness to a historic moment of our mutual cooperation, opening up opportunities for future cooperation.

A recent donation by NCL of Buddhist scriptures was a great boon to many scholars of Buddhist thought at the University of Ghent. It will augment the university’s relationship with National Central Library, as well as promote academic discussion and cooperation on Buddhist studies with other institutions in Taiwan.

The establishment of the TRCCS at the Ghent University attracted a good number of people to participate in the opening ceremony. Among them are Representative Kuo-yu Tung of Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium, Ms. Saskia Scheltjens, head of the Faculty Library of Arts and Philosophy, Prof. Bart Dessein of Department of Oriental Languages and Cultures, Prof. Ann Heirman, Director of the Centre for Buddhist, students from Taiwan studying at the Ugent, and colleagues, teachers and students of Ghent University. They were interested in the replicas of The Annotated Poetry of Su Dongpo and The Diamond Sutra and the books and resources provided by the TRCCS.

Befor the opening ceremony, Director General Tseng accompanied by Ms. Saskia Scheltjens and Director Ann Heirman, visited the Faculty Library Arts and Philosophy and observe a variety of library facilities, services, interior design and barrier free environment.

NCL Director General, Shu-hsien Tseng and Dr. Marc Boone, Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Philosophy of Ghent University, signed a memorandum of cooperation on ‘‘Taiwan Resource Centre for Chinese Studies’’ and then took a photo with Representative Kuo-yu Tung of Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium.

The first TRCCS in Belgium is unveiled at the UGhent.

Speeches by Prof. Mr. Bart Dessein, Dr. Marc Boone, Director General Tseng (clockwise)

Director General Tseng offering the national treasure: replicas of The Annotated Poetry of Su Dongpo and The Diamond Sutra and exchanging gifts with Dean Marc Boone.

Participants of the opening ceremony including students from Taiwan studying at the UGhent, and colleagues, teachers and students of UGhent.

Director General visits the Faculty Library of Arts and Philosophy. (with black dress: Ms. Saskia Scheltjens, with blue upper outer: of. Ann Heirman)

The interior design of the Faculty Library of Arts and Philosophy