AREA Day 2024: Spotlight on Taiwan

November 9,  2024 

The annual AREA-Tag (AREA Day) at Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) brought Taiwan’s vibrant culture to North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) on November 9, 2024. AREA Ruhr is a joint research alliance of the Faculty of East Asian Studies, Ruhr University Bochum and the Institute of East Asian Studies (IN-EAST), University of Duisburg-Essen, within the greater University Alliance Ruhr (UA Ruhr). 

Initiated by the AREA Ruhr, AREA Day is dedicated to examining East Asia’s cultural and social impact in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), offering the public an enriching experience through lectures, cultural events, and guided tours. 

This year’s event themed was “Taiwan: Culture, Cuisine & Community,” organised by AREA Ruhr in collaboration with Taiwanherz, and invited attendees to explore Taiwan’s cultural heritage and its presence in NRW. The event took place at RUB Uni-Forum Ost (UFO) venue and showcased an engaging programme designed to connect the community with Taiwan’s diverse traditions. Attendees were welcomed with Taiwanese culinary delights, including bubble tea, and a variety of hands-on workshops. Activities spanned calligraphy, martial arts, ceramic painting, and traditional games like Chinese chess and mahjong, along with performances by a choir highlighting Taiwanese indigenous music.

A highlight of the event was the keynote by Prof. Dr. Sebastian Bersick, Co-Director of the Governing Borard at AREA Ruhr and Professor of East Asian Studies at the Faculty of East Asian Studies (RUB). Prof. Bersick underscored AREA Ruhr’s role in fostering research and teaching, and cultural partnerships between Europe and Asia, and its mission to provide a holistic, interdisciplinary environment that includes history, religion, political science, economics, sociology, and linguistics.

In addition to cultural events, AREA Day introduced the “Taiwan as a Pioneer” (TAP) research project. TAP, led by the Faculty of East Asian Studies (OAW) at RUB, focuses on Taiwan’s pioneering role in cultural and technological advancements. The project exemplifies AREA Ruhr’s dedication to advancing East Asian Studies and bridging cultural divides in NRW, reflecting the university’s commitment to promoting global understanding through interdisciplinary research and teaching.

As part of the University Alliance Ruhr (UA Ruhr), AREA Ruhr benefits from strategic cooperation with the University of Duisburg-Essen and TU Dortmund University. AREA Day 2024 continues this alliance’s tradition of academic excellence and collaborative initiatives, enriching the community’s engagement with East Asia.