wfn.org | Southeast Asian Theological Association Meets in Taiwan

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Taiwan Church News 2747, 18 to 24 October 2004

Reported by Lin Yi-ying.  Translated and Rewritten by David Alexander

The Association for Theological Education in South East Asia (ATESEA) held
its
annual executive committee meeting from October 11 to 14 in Taipei.  Thirty
theological professors and college presidents from 10 countries gathered to
discuss the results of accreditation visits that they had made to schools
across the region and to plan how they would cooperate to upgrade programmes
in a wide range of areas.

The ATESEA is recognized by the World Council of Churches as the regional
group which certifies the quality of theological training offered in schools
from Pakistan to Taiwan. The visiting scholars included theologians and
educators from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines,
Australia, Myanmar, Hong Kong and Germany. Every four years each school
accredited by the association is visited and critiqued.  Taiwan Theological
College, Yushan Theological College, the Presbyterian Bible College, Tainan
Theological College, Taiwan Baptist Theological Seminary and Taiwan Adventist
College were visited prior to the meeting. Wesley Theological College
received
its first accreditation visit. Course credits from approved schools are
considered legitimate when their graduates apply for entrance to universities
and colleges in Europe and the Americas.

Professor Cheng Yangen from Taiwan Theological College is the association!&s
secretary.  He said that visits are conducted by small teams sent to several
different countries.  They look at each school!&s educational offerings,
environment, policies, cooperation, faculty, student life and various other
aspects. The visits are followed by a joint meeting in a convenient location
during which discussions are held and decisions are made on the quality of
particular institutions!& offerings.

For international groups like ATESEA to meet in Taiwan is considered precious
because of this nation's increasing diplomatic isolation under pressure from
China.	This year!&s meeting was held at the Roman Catholic One World
Community Center in Hsintien. Some of the participants who were last in this
country 8 years ago remarked on the progress they have seen here.

For More Information: Cheng Yangen giongun.tin@msa.hinet.net

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