Graduate Institute of Taiwan Literature (GITL) was founded in 2004, with MA program provided. In 2010, GITL started the PhD program. Beside providing graduate programs, GITL also serves as the nexus of the Taiwan Studies Programs, an undergraduate platform that offers interdisciplinary courses and seminars. Proving and fashioning rich resources of education and research on Taiwan literature studies, GITL has become on of the most significant academic institutes humanity field.
The Taiwanization movements blooming during the 90S triggered the founding of GITL. Around that time, the movements mobilized a strong demand of Taiwan-focused perspective, knowledge and methodologies. Against this backdrop, GITL aims to provide an integrated, transdisciplinary platform that contains diverse courses and seminars on topics including Taiwan literature, history and historiography, art and cultural studies, gender/sexuality studies, race and postcolonial studies, media studies, performance studies, among others.
With a strong focus on humanity research, GITL also highlights its emphasis on creative writing and activist practice. Covering literatures and related cultural events and phenomena created or occurred in Taiwan, GITL aims to expand the established boundaries and frameworks of Taiwan literature studies and ultimately enhance the interconnection between Taiwan literature and the world. In this light, it is GITL’s goal to not only mobilize production of knowledge and thoughts on Taiwan literature but also vision what Taiwan literature might contribute to humanity study.
Past & Present Directors of the Institute
1st term: Professor Ho Chi-Peng(何寄澎)
(Aug 1, 2004–July 31, 2005)
2nd term: Professor Ko Ching-Ming(柯慶明)
(Aug 1, 2005–July 31, 2008)
3rd term: Professor Mei Chia-Ling(梅家玲)
(Aug 1, 2008–July 31, 2011)
4th term: Professor Horng Shu-Ling(洪淑苓)
(Aug 1, 2011–July 31, 2014)
5th-6th terms: Professor Huang Mei-Er(黃美娥)
(Aug 1, 2014–July 31, 2020)
7th term: Professor Chang Wen-Hsun(張文薰)(Incumbent)
(Aug 1, 2020–present)