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進入《TAIPEI TIMES》 Youth programs sparking interest in Taiwan: OCAC
International students pose at the opening ceremony for a New Southbound Policy study program at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taipei on Sept. 15 last year. Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
By Yang Yao-ju / Staff reporter
Ninety-five percent of the participants of the Overseas Community Affairs Council （OCAC） “overseas compatriot youth study activities” last year have expressed increased interest in studying in Taiwan, it said.
After suspending the activities for three years during the COVID-19 pandemic, the council resumed them last year.
Last year, it held six sessions each of its Overseas Compatriot Youth Taiwan Experience Program and Overseas Youth Taiwan Study Tour, and seven sessions of its Language Study Program for Compatriot Youth.
There were 1,642 enrolled members from New Southbound Policy nations, a 6.7 percent increase from 1,538 members in 2019, including 929 from Indonesia, 288 from the Philippines and 126 from Thailand, OCAC data showed.
To train and employ more overseas compatriots, the council said it would design its youth study activity programs to meet the demands of young people from different countries each year, encouraging them to spend two to four weeks in Taiwan to get to know the educational environment and culture, improve their Mandarin language ability, communicate with young Taiwanese, and prepare for further education in Taiwan.
As the Overseas Compatriot Youth Taiwan Experience Program is aimed at introducing Taiwan’s vocational education environment to young overseas compatriots, the council arranges for them to visit high schools and university campuses with industry-academia cooperative education programs and allow them to experience the vocational courses.
Ninety-five percent of the participants say the program has increased their interest in studying in Taiwan, while 88 percent said they were satisfied with the program, a council survey showed.
The Overseas Youth Taiwan Study Tour is aimed at helping participants learn about Taiwan through ecological exploration and cultural visits, while the Language Study Program uses competency-based learning in small classes to improve their Mandarin listening, speaking, reading and writing abilities.
Fifty-six percent of participants in the language program improved their Mandarin capability by at least one level, the council said.
Since 2017, the Taiwan Youth and Overseas Expatriate Bridging Program has sent 606 young Taiwanese to various places around the world, to learn about overseas community affairs and promote Taiwan, it said.
This year, the program is to be held in Bangkok and Brisbane, Australia, as well as Seattle, Los Angeles and California’s Orange County, it said, adding that 12 youth ambassadors each would be selected for a one-week visit at one of the five locations, for a total of 60 ambassadors.
The council would offer a fixed subsidy to cover visa application fees and airfare, while it and overseas compatriots would cover expenses such as airport pickups and drop-offs, meals, transportation and accommodation, it said.
People aged 18 to 35 who are studying in college, university or graduate schools in Taiwan and are Republic of China citizens are eligible to apply for the program before Feb. 29, at the council’s Web site （https://gov.tw/5V3）.
新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES
