To cope with the trend of globalization, in 2011, the Taiwanese Ministry of Education enacted the White Paper on International Education for Primary and Secondary Schools, which strives to cultivate students with “national identity, international literacy, global ability of competition and cooperation, as well as global responsibility”(p. 5). Concerning the first two goals of national identity and international literacy, this paper claims that schools should set out on the international education aspect by helping students learn more about Taiwan. Some research, however, notes that pre-service/in-service teachers who are involved in the international voluntary service programs are frustrated with the problem of how to introduce Taiwan to foreign people. Based on the above needs for promoting international education, the Ministry of Science and Technology granted permission for an integrative research project, which comprises six sub-projects that will develop digital materials on the image of Taiwan (also known as the New Taiwan Image project).
The seven papers in the panel were the partial results of the New Taiwan Image project. By utilizing interviews, the six sub-projects aimed to elicit the perspectives and images local and international college students have of Taiwan. This information will be crucial for the development of digital materials on the image of Taiwan.
