POSSA’s Mini Taiwan Day Official Launch: First Cultural Collaboration with TECO

By, Farah Aishah Rosli

GOMBAK, 16 December 2025: The Mini Taiwan Day organised by the Political Science Students’ Association (POSSA) in collaboration with the Policy and Area Studies Research Unit (PASRU) has officially launched at the Main Auditorium, IIUM.

This event served as a platform for undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships, Mandarin language scholarships, internship placements, and research opportunities such as short-term research programmes and fellowships under initiatives including the Ministry of Education (MOE) Taiwan Scholarship, MOE Huayu Enrichment Scholarship, Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) Scholarship, and the Taiwan Experience Education Program (TEEP).

The event, sponsored by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Malaysia, was gracefully officiated by Associate Professor Dr. Rabiah Tul Adawiyah Mohamed Salleh, the representative of AbdulHamid AbuSulayman Kuliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Science (AHAS KIRKHS) and Deputy Representative of TECO, Mr. James Wu, who was also formally managed by Dr. Lau Zhe Wei, a lecturer from the Department of Political Science and Madani Studies.

According to the Programme Manager, Br. Ahmad Zikri Ahmad Sha’arani said, “Taiwan was chosen as the focus of our cultural event as we are deeply intrigued by the state’s ability to crown itself at the top of the world ranking in health care system, semiconductor foundry, and Asia’s only Super Innovator by WEF ranking. Moreover, Taiwan can provide higher education excellence and competitiveness, which is in line with IIUM’s vision to cultivate the virtue of excellence among the students. Their Muslim-friendly environment demonstrates an inclusive city destination as recognised by the Global Muslim Travel Index.”

**Participants of Mini Taiwan Day with the VIPs**

The Mini Taiwan Day marked the first cultural exchange programme conducted in IIUM and following the positive response from students, lecturers and TECO representatives, POSSA expressed its intention to expand more future cultural initiatives.

“We also look forward to introducing the sociopolitics of Australia countries, namely Australia and New Zealand, where its social fabric seems to go under the radar and thus will make an interesting theme to explore,” said Br. Zikri.***