MOE boosts engagement of Taiwan youth at global level

2021/06/21

A Ministry of Education-funded initiative is giving talented Taiwan youths a chance to represent the country and learn from their peers in the international arena.

The iYouth Voice Program under the MOE’s Youth Development Administration sends young participants abroad to participate in activities, mechanisms and meetings of international and nongovernmental organizations. It also offers financial incentives to groups that organize and host conferences in Taiwan.

The experiences are expected to help develop the creative and innovative potential of young talent.

“The program is designed to provide experience participating in global affairs while broadening horizons,” YDA administrator Jean Wang said. “It also helps boost Taiwan’s international image and visibility.”


A student dons traditional Taiwan indigenous clothing and accessories during one of the IFMSA meeting’s many side activities.

Among groups receiving support through the program is the Federation of Medical Students in Taiwan, which won the right to host the 68th August Meeting of the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations.

Headquartered in Denmark, the IFMSA connects 1.3 million medical students from 133 member organizations in 123 countries. Its biannual general assembly is among the world’s biggest youth-led events, according to the federation.

The August 2019 meeting held in Taipei was a widely praised success, with 880 medical students from 107 countries in attendance.

“Organizing an international event is a daunting task, especially for students with limited resources,” said Chan Yen-kuang, vice chairperson for public relations at FMS-Taiwan. “Thankfully, with government support, everything went smoothly and feedback was very positive.”

Over the course of the 15-day event, FMS-Taiwan’s members planned a variety of activities including lion dances for the opening and closing ceremonies, cultural nights, exhibitions, workshops and sightseeing tours to give attendees a taste of Taiwan-style hospitality alongside the normal IFMSA proceedings. Under the theme “Science, Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Health Care,” the meeting focused on improving medical education, reducing health inequality and utilizing technology to reshape health care systems.

“It’s been an honor to fly the flag for Taiwan as an innovator and provider of high-quality medical education and services by hosting the event,” Chan said. “We learned a lot from our exchanges with overseas counterparts, such as about curriculum reform initiatives they have launched.”

The many rewarding experiences cited by Chan and other iYouth participants demonstrate the effectiveness of the funding program.

“Giving young people as many opportunities as possible to represent their country on the world stage not only maximizes their own developmental potential but also that of local communities,” Wang said. “It’s all about learning from friends abroad while sticking true to homegrown Taiwan values.”


Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)