International Youth Ambassador Awarded by President
Ministry of Foreign Affairs started to hold the “International Youth Ambassador Exchange Plan” three years ago. By the end of this summer, 37 groups went to 33 countries to proceed as youth diplomacy. The 100-year achievement presentation was held on September 30th at NTNU gym. President Ma Ying-jeou issued the certificates and emphasized that the plan was not only to walk out to the world and the world walk in as well.
The plan this year provided 37 groups from 24 universities to visit 21 countries with diplomatic relation and 12 countries without diplomatic relation in summer. NTNU group called on two universities in South Africa in July carried out the mandarin, martial arts, and traditional food exchange. President Ma indicated in his speech that the “International Youth Ambassador Exchange Plan”, “International Youth Taiwan Study Camp”, and “Taiwan Scholarship” were all important exchange activities held by Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We hoped to play four roles in the world: the first was the founder of peace; the second was the provider of humanitarian aid; the third was the pusher of cultural exchange; and the last was the creator of new technology and commerce.
Each group displayed the result of the exchange plan on the presentation. NTNU Principal Chang Kuo-en indicated that NTNU had 65 years history. Besides dedicated to academic research and teacher education, NTNU emphasized on international cooperation and interchange. NTNU Office of International Affairs only founded for four years and already had 34 cooperated countries and more than 220 sister schools. Principal Chang encouraged students to make friends from different countries, connected with the world, and promoted high quality and friendly living environment.