這項研究的發起目的在於深入了解以下問題：臺灣機構提供給加勒比盟友的獎學金如何促進受獎者的個人發展？這個過程通過與過去的獎學金受獎者畢業生進行的17次深度質性訪談完成，這些訪談使用主題分析階段產生七個主題，這些主題包括：1）財務穩定 2）文化曝光 3）專業發展 4）語言學習 5）文化挑戰 6）全球觀點 7）改進建議。這項研究進一步闡明了臺灣高等教育獎學金計劃作為一種軟實力工具的概念，因為受獎者成為臺灣語言、文化和教育的傳播者。訪談者強調，他們為何會申請這些獎學金，是因為它們是全額補助的，能解除了學生貸款的負擔，然而，當他們深入了解臺灣文化時，他們開始意識到諸多好處，如安全性、便利性、網絡能力、社會價值觀以及獲得獎學金完成後的回報（獲得學位，個人成長的機會）。實際上，仍有一些建議需要改進的地方，比如提供與畢業學位相關的工作機會，教育臺灣人關於臺灣盟友的知識，改善學校國際部門的員工-學生體驗。儘管如此，對這些受獎者而言，整體經歷大致上是正面的。

This research was initiated to gain insight on the following question: How does scholarship offered by Taiwan Institutions to its Caribbean allies contribute to the recipients’ individual development? This process was completed using 17 in-depth qualitative interviews with past scholarship recipients graduates whose interviews generated seven main themes using the thematic analysis phases, these themes include: 1) Financial Stability; 2) Cultural Exposure; 3) Professional Development; 4) Language Learning; 5) Cultural Challenges; 6) Global Perspectives; 7) and Recommendation for Improvements. This research further enlightens the idea that Taiwan’s Higher Education scholarship programs serves as a soft power tool as recipients becomes transmitters of Taiwan’s language, culture and education. The interviewees highlighted they are first motivated to apply for the scholarships because they are fully funded which reliefs them of the burden of student loans, however, as they become immerse into Taiwan’s culture, they begin to realize the many benefits such as safety, convenience, ability to network, societal values and the reward at the end of the scholarship completion (degree obtained, opportunity for personal growth). There are in fact some suggested areas that requires improvement such as providing job offers relating to the degrees obtain, educating Taiwanese about Taiwan’s allies, improving the staff-student experience in the international departments of schools. Nevertheless, the overall experience towards these recipients is mostly positive.

Table of Contents
Thesis Validation Letteri
Acknowledgmentsii
Abstract (Chinese)iii
Abstract (English)iv
Table of Figuresvi
Table of Tablesvii
List of Acronymviii
Introduction- 1 -
1.Literature Review- 3 -
1.1Soft Power- 3 -
1.2Soft Power and Higher Education- 6 -
1.3Soft Power and Taiwan Higher Education- 9 -
1.4Taiwan’s Soft Power within its Caribbean Diplomatic Allies Countries.- 11 -
2.Methodology- 15 -
2.1Methodological Approach- 16 -
2.2 Sample and Demographics- 23 -
2.3Interview Process- 25 -
3.Empirical Data & Analysis- 27 -
3.1The Caribbean and Higher Education- 30 -
3.2Case Study: Taiwan’s West Indies (Caribbean) Allies – My Story- 33 -
3.3Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – One university graduate per household- 34 -
3.4Saint Lucia – Taiwan complicated relationship- 41 -
3.5Saint Kitts and Nevis – Brain Drain Crisis- 46 -
3.6Haiti – Political Turmoil- 50 -
3.7Case Studies: Taiwan’s Educational Soft Power in Action- 55 -
Limitations and Future Research:- 57 -
Conclusion- 60 -
Bibliography- 62 -

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