THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
Asian International Relations Seminar
Each year CIR takes a group of students, chosen through a competitive application process, with faculty to a part of Asia over spring break to meet policymakers, journalists, analysts, scholars, and others who offer insight into IR in a crucial part of the world.
The seminar was first launched in the fall of 2015 as the Delhi Seminar, with the inaugural trip taken in spring 2016 to India, followed by trips back to the country in 2017 and 2019. Since 2023, seminar participants have traveled to Taiwan each year for an immersive experience that takes major concepts of international relations out of the classroom and into real-world settings.
Day 1:
- Walking Tour
- Center for Asia-Pacific Resilience and Innovation
Day 2:
- American Institute in Taiwan
- National Taiwan University - Department of Political Science
- Dinner with Dorota Maczuga, founder of Polylocal
Day 3:
- National Dong Hwa University
Day 4:
- Expert panel and discussion on East Asia’s regional political economy hosted by the University of Chicago Alumni Club of Taiwan
Day 5:
- Leisure time
Day 6:
- Academia Sinica
- Registration and opening remarks, Chung-li Wu
- Keynote address by Professor Yu-Shan Wu, “The Contending Approaches to the Study of Cross-Strait Relations”
- Lunch at Beiyun Chinese Restaurant
- Guided tour, Museum of Institute of History and Philology
- Panel presentation. Shane Hsuan-Yu Lin, “Chips and Democracy: Explain American Support for Intervention.” Ronan Tse-min Fu, “David versus Goliath: Taiwanese Victory Perceptions Against Chinese Aggression.”
Day 7:
- Legislative Yuan / DPP, Legislator Wang Ting-yu
- Legislative Yuan / KMT, Legislator Hsu Yu-Chen
- Celebratory lunch at GiGuo Hotpot [Reserved]
- Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
- DPP / International Affairs, Michael Chen
Day 8:
- Breakfast with Sean Yu
- Foxconn, Neihu HQ
- Institute for National Policy Research, Yujen Kuo
- Celebration dinner
Day 9
- Conversation with journalist Ben Blanchard, Reuters Taiwan bureau chief and William Yang, Senior Northeast Asia analyst for International Crisis Group
- Taipei 101
Day 1:
Academia Sinica. Morning panel, “The Issue of Taiwan’s Sovereignty.” Afternoon Panel, “US-Taiwan-China Relations.”
Day 2:
Journalist panel discussion with William Yang, Voice of America English News and Joyu Wang, The Wall Street Journal.
Meeting with Professor Lev Nachman
Day 3:
Institute for National Defense and Security Research
Institute for National Policy Research
Day 4:
National Dong Hwa University
Day 5:
University Chicago Alumni Club of Taiwan: Reception and Lunch Conversation
Longshan Temple
National Palace Museum
Shilin Night Market
Day 6:
Leisure time
Day 7:
American Institute in Taiwan
Tzu Chi Foundation
National Taiwan University Department of Political Science
Day 8:
Legislative Yuan
Legislator Ting-Yu Wang, DPP
Legislators Jenny Yu-Chen Hsu. Ju-Chun Ko, and Jo-Hua Chiu, KMT
Day 9:
Center for Asia-Pacific Resilience and Innovation
Taipei 101
Participants of the 2024 seminar visited Taiwan, with stops at Academia Sinica, Tsing Hua National University's new Taipei School of Economics and Political Science, TVBS News and more.
2024 Itinerary - At a Glance
Day 1:
National Taiwan University - Meet and Greet, Lunch on Campus
Hosts: Dr. Min-Hua Huang, Chair of Political Science; Dr. Chang-Ling Huang, Director of Global Asia
American Institute of Taiwan
Hosts: Richard Jao, Political Chief; Jordan Land, Political Officer; John Morgan, Consular Chief
Day 2:
Academia Sinica - Seminars and Museum Tour
Hosts: Dr. Chien-Huei Wu; Dr. Ku-ming (Kevin Chang); Dr. Wen Liu; Dr. James Lee; Dr. Wen-Chin Wu; Dr. Christina Lai
Day 3:
National Tsing Hua University, Taipei School of Economics and Political Science
Hosts: Dr. Tain-Jy Chen; Dr. Chung-Min Tsai
Day 4:
National Sun Yat-sen University, Institute of China and Asia-Pacific Studies
Host: Dr. Yujen Kuo, Director
Day 5:
Explore the city - various optional tours
Day 6:
UChicago Alumni Club of Taiwan
Hosts: Christina Liu, Alumni Club President; Ian Chen, Alumni Club Secretary General
Day 7:
Discussion with Journalists
Hosts: Joyu Wang, Reporter, The Wall Street Journal; William Yang, Freelance Journalist, Voice of America
Institute for National Policy Research
Host: Dr. Yujen Kuo, Vice President
Cheng Kai Shek Memorial Hall Tour
Day 8:
Institute for National Defense and Security Research
Host: Judy Chang, Secretariat Office at INDSR
National Chengchi University
Host: Dr. Lev Nachman
TVBS News Station
Host: Monica Jiang, Asst. Manager International Affairs News Department
Day 9:
Center for Asia-Pacific Resilience and Innovation
Hosts: Cecilia Yin, Director of Administration; Caroline Fried, Interim Director of Research; Emily Cheng, Research and Administrative Assistant
Participants of the 2023 seminar visited Taiwan, with stops at National Chengchi University, the American Institute of Taiwan, the Chinese Council of Advanced Policy Studies, and more. They met with researchers, student peers, policymakers, and even journalists from outlets such as Thomson Reuters and The Wall Street Journal.
Launched in 2015, with trips to India in 2016, 2017 and 2019. This seminar took place at the University of Chicago’s Delhi Center in New Delhi, India. As preparation for the seminar, students accepted to the program enroll in a specialized course prior to the quarter in which the trip occurs.
The Delhi seminar included opportunities to meet Indian scholars and practitioners currently appointed in Indian universities, think tanks, and government. Topics discussed have included South Asian security and political economy, human rights, and climate change. Generous support from the Delhi Center covered all student costs for the seminar including international airfare, lodging, and most meals.
