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Taipei — Just one year after its establishment in September 2024, National Taiwan University’s School of Political Science and Economics (SPE) entered a new chapter with the appointment of its inaugural dean, Prof. Spyros Maniatis, following an extensive international search. A distinguished scholar in intellectual property and comparative law, Prof. Maniatis brings decades of academic leadership experience and a bold interdisciplinary vision to one of NTU’s most forward-looking academic programs.

Prof. Maniatis commenced his academic career at Queen Mary University of London, where he earned his doctorate and went on to become a pillar of the British legal academy. For more than a decade, he served as Director of the Centre for Commercial Law Studies (CCLS), founded by the renowned commercial law scholar Prof. Sir Roy Goode. Under his leadership, CCLS developed into a global hub for legal education, attracting more than 1,500 graduate students from 120 countries each year.

Beyond expanding the school’s international reach, Prof. Maniatis spearheaded the creation of several landmark interdisciplinary programs, including Law and Economics, Law and the Environment, and Art and Law, and launched dual-degree LLM partnerships with the University of Sorbonne and Singapore Management University (SMU). His work has redefined how law schools engage with the global economy and the arts, setting a new model for cross-border education.

In 2018, he was appointed Director of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law, where he broadened its research agenda to include technology and trade and human rights, bridging traditional legal studies with contemporary global challenges.

Reflecting on his career, Prof. Maniatis emphasizes two guiding principles: international and comparative. “It’s not enough to look at one aspect only,” he explains. “You have to bring everything together.” In an era when human rights can reshape supply chains, environmental standards can alter trade policy, and AI governance can challenge both corporate and governmental ethics, his open approach feels particularly apt and timely.

That spirit of integration aligns perfectly with NTU’s vision for SPE — a school designed to cultivate leaders capable of navigating the world’s geopolitical and economic complexities with intellectual depth and social responsibility.

Having just arrived in Taiwan, Prof. Maniatis describes the island with genuine admiration. “Taiwan is a fascinating place,” he says. “Here, geography, technology, trade, and geopolitics converge in a way that makes it uniquely positioned to train the next generation of problem-solvers and leaders.”

He likens Taiwan’s tech ecosystem to a beehive — a model of intricate coordination and innovation. “To keep the hive thriving, you must protect the queen,” he notes, suggesting that nurturing global-minded talent is key to sustaining Taiwan’s growth. Unlike conventional programs confined to a single discipline, NTU’s School of Political Science and Economics seeks to cultivate cross-domain leaders who combine political insight, economic literacy, and managerial vision.

To advance this mission, the school offers an English-taught curriculum, a student body balanced between domestic and international enrollment, and integrated tracks in politics, economics, finance, leadership, and management. Mandatory internships and overseas study modules ensure that every student gains both in-depth theoretical understanding as well as precious real-world experience.

The model has already proven successful. The school’s first admissions cycle was nearly full, drawing competitive applicants from across the globe and attracting Nobel-level scholars as visiting lecturers.

Building a new school, however, is no simple task. Such challenges as team integration, resource coordination, and international recruitment demand patience, dedication, and vision. Yet Prof. Maniatis remains characteristically optimistic. He aims to leverage Taiwan’s technological strengths and strategic position to make NTU’s SPE a vibrant hub for interdisciplinary research and innovation — a place where global scholarship takes root and flourishes.

He believes the school can become a cradle for nurturing global leaders — individuals defined not only by academic excellence but by cross-disciplinary insight and a sense of social purpose. “Taiwan exports world-class products and chips,” he says. “Now it’s time to export ideas and influence.”

Drawing from his legal background, Prof. Maniatis envisions SPE as a platform for “law, technology, and policy in dialogue.” The school will focus on emerging issues such as AI governance, data regulation, and intellectual property, while fostering collaboration among policymakers, scholars, industry leaders, and NGOs.

“Our goal,” he concludes, “is to build a truly interdisciplinary platform where research and leadership come together — enabling voices from Taiwan to shape policy, influence industry, and inspire change around the world.”