Ministry of Education Welcomes New Scholarship Recipients, Encourages Students to Explore Opportunities in Taiwan after Graduation
The 2023-24 Taiwan Scholarship and Huayu Enrichment Scholarship Recipients Orientation and Welcome Party, a vibrant event welcoming the new academic year, was held on November 10th at the Chang Yung-Fa Foundation. The Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and diplomats from various countries came together to welcome the new scholarship recipients who have chosen Taiwan for their studies. This year, over 1,000 students from more than 80 countries have been awarded scholarships to pursue education in Taiwan, with nearly 600 attending this grand reception. The event not only introduced the students to scholarship regulations but also offered a glimpse into the student life, culture, and diverse society of Taiwan.
Dr. Lin Ming-yu, Deputy Minister of Education, expressed his delight at welcoming such a large number of outstanding international students. He encouraged the scholarship recipients not only to focus on their studies but also, in their free time, to explore and experience the rich culture and warmth of Taiwan. Lin also pointed out the various measures implemented by the Taiwan government in recent years to encourage international students to work in Taiwan after graduation. He expressed his personal hope that the scholarship recipients will choose to remain in Taiwan for work after completing their studies. Additionally, Lin also encouraged students to join the Taiwan Alumni Database, established by the Ministry of Education in 2018, to stay connected with news from Taiwan. In conclusion, he asked the new scholarship recipients to share their experience of studying in Taiwan with friends in their home countries, passing on their study experience in Taiwan.
The event featured two students sharing their unique experiences in Taiwan. Lim Thou Chun, a Malaysian master's student at the National Taipei University of the Arts, is a recipient of the Ministry of Education Taiwan Scholarship. Asia Natalia Gilharry, an undergraduate from Belize at Tamkang University, is a recipient of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Taiwan Scholarship. They spoke about their academic and cultural journeys in Taiwan.
Lim, a student at the National Taipei University of the Arts (NTUA), is pursuing advanced studies in the Graduate Institute of Arts and Humanities Education. He has represented NTUA in an academic exchange with Tokyo University of the Arts and actively participated in international forums and conferences, gaining extensive experience in international exchange. Lim's involvement extends to various international art and dance festivals, assisting curators at the Taipei Arts Festival, and participating in the renowned Cloud Gate Dance Theatre's Nine Songs tour across Taiwan. He encouraged the new students, as they embark on this study journey, to immerse themselves in Taiwan's rich culture, broaden their global perspectives, and courageously chase their dreams.
Hailed from Belize, one of Taiwan’s ally nations, Gilharry is a recipient of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Taiwan Scholarship and is currently studying in the English-instructed bachelor's program in diplomacy and international relations at Tamkang University. Reflecting on her early days in Taiwan, she faced numerous challenges due to the language barrier. However, after a year of studying and making friends in Taiwan, she gradually adjusted to life on the island. Gilharry courageously tried diverse new activities, including a journey around the island, during which she was deeply touched by Taiwan's unique warmth and hospitality. Now, through dance and participation in various events, Gilharry introduces Belizean culture to the people of Taiwan. For her, Taiwan has become a second home.
To encourage international students to pursue academic degrees and study Mandarin in Taiwan, the Ministry of Education established both the Taiwan Scholarship and the Huayu Enrichment Scholarship in 2004. The aim of these scholarships is for outstanding international students to gain a deeper understanding of Taiwan's academic environment and cultural atmosphere during their studies. The ministry hopes that these talented individuals will not only act as cultural ambassadors between Taiwan and their home countries but also consider staying in Taiwan after their studies, contributing their skills and starting another chapter of their life in Taiwan.
