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War & Peace: ICI Holds Flash Course On The Russo-Ukrainian War, Featuring Voices From Ukraine And Eastern Europe

Date : 2022-03-28 Department : International College of Innovation
【Article by International College of Innovation】
Placards of peace and anti-war slogans donned the general building and Roman Square as the International College of Innovation (ICI) of National Chengchi University (NCCU) held a flash course entitled “Let’s Talk About It: War & Peace - On the Russo-Ukrainian War”, during midday of March 21, 2021. Over 150 students signed up for the course aiming to raise awareness and encourage discussion of the quandary, with the event not only hosting an array of international law & affairs experts, but also a panel of diverse individuals from Ukraine, Lithuania, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Estonia narrating the impacts of the war towards their communities back home, as well as the importance of advocating peace and justice.

The event began with opening remarks from ICI’s Vice-Dean Professor Hsien-Ming Lien stressing the importance of holding such a flash course amidst the current international geopolitical situation. Chien-Huei Wu, the first panelist from the Institute of European and American Studies of Academia Sinica, presented the importance and dynamics of international law in resolving the war as well as the responses of the EU and the US towards the Russo-Ukraine crisis. Professor Lien then proceeded to discuss the various global sanctions placed on Russia, the economic impacts the conflict has worldwide, and the new environment of trade and international transaction that has transpired. Finally, Yuan Yi from the Institute of International Relations expounded on the similarities & differences of Ukraine’s situation with that of Taiwan, the failed security assurances from the Budapest memorandum, and the vitality of standing with small states amidst pressures from their bigger superpowers.

Following the seminar and brief lunch break, the participants moved towards NCCU’s Roman square. Hosted by New Bloom Magazine’s Aurora Chang and Taiwan NextGen’s Chen Kuan Ting, Ukrainian, Lithuanian, Russian, Kazakhstani, and Estonian speakers gave their personal anecdotes about the on-ground realities of the war. Alex Khomenko, an expat hailing from Ukraine’s bomb-striken Kharkiv and convenor of Taiwan Stands With Ukraine, narrated the trials & tribulations his fellow compatriots are suffering amidst miilitary aggression. Other speakers, including those from Russia, shared how the war has affected their families back home and expressed their pleas for everyone to stand for peace, and against war; no matter of nationality. Taiwanese speakers, including host & translator James Song, Thomas Liu, and Carey Chang, also added unto the importance of Taiwanese solidarity with all people affected by the war.

"I really appreciated a chance to come and speak at the public forum at NCCU. I feel that letting the students hear personal stories of those impacted by the war adds a very valuable dimension to their understanding of the conflict", Khomenko remarked about the event.

“At NCCU, we have a host of Ukrainian and Russian students, and we hope to hold this course for everyone to understand what is happening, as well as develop dialogue and mutual understanding unto the ongoing crisis”, Vice-Dean Professor Lien added.
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