台灣傅爾布萊特計畫是否能達成美國公共外交目標？台灣傅爾布萊特赴美學友的個案研究

Abstract

本論文旨在研究台灣傅爾布萊特計劃下的赴美學友及相關組織對該計劃的觀感和衍生行為，並將學友組織或相關單位的負責人和志工一起列入此一公共外交案例研究的對象，藉此填補與台灣傅爾布萊特赴美學友相關的研究空缺。此一計劃為美國外交政策下的延伸計畫之一。 本研究以線上問卷的方式進行，旨在探討（一）台灣傅爾布萊特赴美學友對美國的看法；（二）赴美學友參與學友團體和倡議、傅爾布萊特相關活動、促進美台關係及推廣國際交換學術計畫的活躍程度； （三）學友於以上活動的參與度是否能成為其未來活躍度的判準，藉此了解他們未來參與上述團體和活動的意願，以及他們與傅爾布萊特的關係是否會持續。為了進一步了解學友在台灣參與活動的情形，本文以傅爾布萊特台灣學友會理事會成員和傅爾布萊特校園顧問為訪談對象。本研究使用的線上問卷和訪談問題，參考了交流外交和美國國務院教育與文化事務局計劃績效指標使用的理論框架。其中，問卷資料使用交叉表和頻率表來進行分析，訪談資料的分析則以主題重複的章節來呈現。 本研究發現，本文問卷和訪談的對象參與社交活動的意願很高，並且樂意推廣傅爾布萊特計劃以及幫助潛在的申請人，希望藉此回饋台灣傅爾布萊特計畫及學術交流基金會。然而，相關計畫近期除了受到 COVID-19 疫情影響，學友會資金和個人時程安排也影響了組織和參與學友活動的狀況。此外，多位受訪者也提到擴大獎助申請資格的必要，同時強調了潛在申請人所面臨到的障礙。調查結果亦顯示受試者對對美國對台政策的不公感到不滿，但整體上仍對美國抱持正面看法。

The goals of this thesis are to fill the gaps in existing literature on Fulbright Taiwan by studying the perceptions and actions of Taiwanese Fulbright alumni, as well as individuals in leadership and volunteer positions of alumni organizations and programs, as subjects of a case study of public diplomacy (PD) as an extension of American foreign policy efforts. Through an online survey, this study sets out to identify 1) the perceptions of Taiwanese Fulbright alumni towards the US; 2) the degree of their involvement in alumni groups and initiatives, participation in events and activities with links to Fulbright, and promotion of US-Taiwan relations and international educational exchange; 3) and how these may be indicators of their desire for future participation in the aforementioned groups and activities and their continued relations with Fulbright. In order to further explore the alumni activity landscape in Taiwan, Taiwan Fulbright Alumni Association (TFAA) board members and Fulbright Campus Advisors (FCAs) were interviewed for this study. Theoretical frameworks used to justify exchange diplomacy and ECA program performance metrics were used as references from which the online survey and interview questions were formulated. Survey data were analyzed using cross tabulation and frequency tables, and the interview data were analyzed and organized into sections of recurring themes. The study found among the survey and interview participants that there was a high degree of enthusiasm to participate in networking events and willingness to give back to Fulbright Taiwan/FSE by promoting the program and helping potential applicants. However, organizational funding and individual time constraints, in addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, have stood in the way of organizing and joining in alumni events. In addition, the need to expand the grant applicant pool was suggested by multiple interview participants, while highlighting obstacles that potential grant applicants face. Other survey results indicate that perceptions towards the United States are generally positive, with the exception of low satisfaction towards fairness of the US policies towards Taiwan.