From November 10 to 21, 2025, Integria organized an expert trip of a Czech academic Dr. Martin Štefek, Head of Political Science Department of the Charles University and Deputy Director at the Institute for Contemporary History at the Czech Academy of Sciences. An intensive two-week series of university lectures, closed workshops, public discussions, and meetings with academic and institutional partners focused on questions of democratization, political systems, and media–state relations, drawing on Central European experience.
Why Taiwan – and why Czech–Taiwan cooperation matters
In recent years, cooperation between the Czech Republic and Taiwan has grown significantly, particularly in the fields of education, research, and civil society exchange. As a democracy navigating a complex international environment, Taiwan actively seeks partnerships with countries that share democratic values, academic freedom, and an interest in open dialogue. The Czech Republic has become one of Taiwan’s key partners in Europe, providing a strong foundation for sustained academic cooperation.
Integria’s Global Perspectives program builds on this context by facilitating direct exchanges between Czech scholars and Taiwanese students, academics, and the wider public. The 2025 visit followed earlier successful activities and further deepened existing relationships while opening new institutional connections.
Academic program in Taipei
In Taipei, Dr. Štefek engaged with several academic institutions. At National Chengchi University (NCCU), the Russian Institute hosted a lecture on the transformation of party systems in the Czech Republic. This event marked the third consecutive year of cooperation between Integria and NCCU, reflecting the continuity of Czech–Taiwan academic exchange.
Dr. Štefek was also invited to Ming Chuan University as part of the 25th Journalism and Mass Communication Program Communication Seminar. The well-attended session examined comparative perspectives from East Asia and Central Europe on the evolving relationship between the state and the media in the 21st century, generating lively discussion among students and faculty.
Expanding cooperation in southern Taiwan
An important new element of the 2025 program was its expansion to southern Taiwan. In Kaohsiung, National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU) hosted Dr. Štefek for a seminar focusing on the legacy of Václav Havel, with particular attention to his 1990 speech to the U.S. Congress, his views on European integration, and his reflections on the role of great powers in international politics.
This visit marked the beginning of a new academic partnership between Integria and NSYSU and opened opportunities for future academic exchange and cooperation.
Public discussion and networking
Beyond the university environment, the program also included a public discussion in Taipei organized in cooperation with New Bloom, featuring Taiwanese journalist and activist Brian Hioe. The event focused on recent developments in media freedom and media landscapes in Central Europe, offering perspectives relevant to Taiwan’s own democratic debates.
The visit further enabled meetings with academic and institutional partners, contributing to the strengthening of existing relationships and the development of new ones.
Continuity and long-term impact
The 2025 visit once again demonstrated that long-term, relationship-based academic engagement is essential for meaningful international cooperation. Repeated exchanges allow networks to grow organically, deepen mutual understanding, and create space for future joint initiatives.
By connecting Czech scholars with Taiwanese students, academics, and the broader public, Integria’s Global Perspectives program continues to support Czech–Taiwan dialogue grounded in shared democratic values, comparative thinking, and sustained academic exchange.