The International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) recently held the 6th joint internship results sharing session for overseas interns, volunteer interns, and Mandarin teaching interns under the “College Youth Overseas Technical Assistance Service Program.” A total of 24 college students completed a five-month overseas internship, with seven of them from National Chiayi University (NCYU), the highest number of participants among all universities and colleges in Taiwan.
Since the academic year 2019-2020, NCYU has been collaborating with TaiwanICDF to implement the “College Youth Overseas Technical Assistance Service Program.” This initiative allows students to join TaiwanICDF's technical missions in allied and friendly nations, contributing to technical assistance services while promoting industry-academia cooperation and exchanges. Now in its sixth year, the program is integrated with NCYU’s elective course “Professional Off-Campus Internship.” Each year, NCYU hosts an overseas internship briefing session to encourage students to apply. In the academic year 2024-2025, seven students participated, marking a record high. The students participating in the overseas internship this year included Lin Yi-Kun from the Department of Veterinary Medicine (Eswatini), Chen Shih-Yan from the Professional Bachelor Program of Farm Management (Philippines), Hsieh Tzu-Fang (Saint Lucia), Huang Yen-Chun from the Department of Aquatic Biosciences (Fiji), Tan Chih-Yun (Paraguay), Yuan Ming-Chia (Palau), and Li Shang-En (Palau). During the sharing session, they presented their unique experiences of developing professional skills and engaging in foreign aid affairs in the field. All students expressed that they were able to apply what they learned in school and put their knowledge into practice. Furthermore, the experience provided them with a deeper understanding of Taiwan’s role in international cooperation, making it both a rare memory and excellent opportunity to pursue their dreams.
The TaiwanICDF primarily focuses on assisting friendly and developing countries in areas such as economic, social, and human resource development, strengthening economic ties with these nations, and providing humanitarian aid to countries affected by natural disasters or to international refugees. In his remarks, TaiwanICDF Deputy Secretary-General Stephen J. H. Lee expressed his delight in seeing students apply their knowledge to Taiwan’s foreign aid efforts. This highlights the diplomatic strength of young Taiwanese while also demonstrating Taiwan’s global presence.
This sharing session
highlighted TaiwanICDF’s commitment to empowering youth, as well as showcasing
Taiwan’s value and influence in international cooperation. The seven NCYU
students showcased their enthusiasm and ability to foster international
collaboration and friendships. In addition, they gained invaluable overseas
internship experience, which enriched their academic learning and expanded
their future career prospects. NCYU will continue collaborating with TaiwanICDF
to promote the “College Youth Overseas Technical Assistance Service Program,”
offering young students opportunities to serve and learn overseas and realize
their dreams.
Photo 1: Deputy
Secretary-General Stephen J. H. Lee with the seven NCYU overseas interns.
Photo 2: Deputy
Secretary-General Stephen J. H. Lee presented the internship certificate to
Chen Shih-Yan from the Professional Bachelor Program of Farm Management
(right).
Photo 3: Yuan
Ming-Chia from the Department of Aquatic Biosciences shared his internship
experience in Palau.
Photo 4: Group
photo of attendees.