Recognizing Taiwan’s ongoing strategic importance to the peace and security of the United States and the Indo-Pacific, the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs, the College of Social Sciences at National Taiwan University (NTU-COSS) and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston (TECO-Houston) have established the “Taiwan as the Most Valuable Partner (Taiwan MVP)” initiative.
This initiative, which was formalized during a Feb. 11 ceremony, will create a framework for academic exchange, collaboration and leadership development around shared goals of global engagement and public service. “The Texas A&M Bush School, with our leadership on issues such as AI, high-tech scientific collaborations and policy and international affairs, makes us an ideal center for expanding [DM1] the partnership with Taiwan,” said Ambassador John Hennessey-Niland, director of the Bush School’s Scowcroft Institute and Professor of Practice. “We’re excited and looking forward to this important new partnership.”
Taiwan MVP will launch in March when a group of Texas A&M doctoral and master’s students, led by Hennessey-Niland, visit Taiwan. This visit also will set the stage for the initiative’s first major conference on U.S.-Taiwan relations, which is planned for fall 2026 at the Bush School.
During the Feb. 11 signing ceremony, Bush School Dean John B. Sherman emphasized the importance of these types of international partnerships in preparing the next generation of global leaders. TECO-Houston Director General Yvonne Hsiao and NTU Associate Dean of Social Sciences Chen-Ling Hung concurred while also highlighting the Taiwan MVP initiative’s strategic significance in forging a shared commitment to fostering global commerce, leadership, and student engagement.
Bush School students believe this new partnership will offer meaningful opportunities to learn more about this strategic nation and extend their professional network. “Attending the Signing Ceremony and witnessing the beginning of the MVP Initiative between the Bush School and NTU was such an exciting experience, as it marks an incredible opportunity for both institutions,” said Maddie Reynolds, a master’s student studying international affairs. “I’m looking forward to visiting Taiwan, not only to explore it for the first time, but also to strengthen relationships and contribute to this meaningful partnership!”
