The First International Ideas Festival brings Purdue Engineering alumni together in Taipei
A group of about 100 guests, many from the local alumni organization, attended the event in Taipei and listened as a team of Purdue and local experts discussed “Entrepreneurial Universities and Innovative Societies.” The panel took its theme from the Ideas Festival centerpiece of Purdue’s Giant Leaps Sesquicentennial Campaign. The Ideas Festival connects interdisciplinary groups of renowned speakers and Purdue experts in conversations about the most critical problems and opportunities facing our world. The Taipei panel was the first international event of Ideas Festival.
The panelists included the presidents of two leading universities in Taiwan: Mau-Chung "Frank" Chang, president of National Chiao Tung University; Tei-Wei Kuo, interim president of National Taiwan University; as well as George Chiu, the College of Engineering’s assistant dean for Global Engineering Programs and Partnerships; and Dimitrios Peroulis, the College of Engineering’s associate dean for External Affairs.
“Purdue’s connections with Taiwan date back many decades ago, and we were pleased to be able to reconnect with so many alumni during our stay,” says Alyssa Wilcox, senior associate vice president for advancement and a member of the Purdue entourage. “The alumni community is always incredibly welcoming, warm and generous, and we’re proud of their great success. We deeply thank our enthusiastic Taiwanese alumni for their hospitality and support.”
“Taiwan has taken a special place in Purdue’s global collaboration since the 1950s. There are over 1000 engineering alumni in Taiwan today,” says Mung Chiang, Dean of the College of Engineering. “Through twelve meetings with key leaders during this trip, including Minister of Science and Technology, Chairmen and CEOs of world-leading tech companies, and three of the major universities, we are opening a new chapter of engaging with Taiwan in all dimensions.”
