In order to provide the students with opportunities to broaden their horizons and gain overseas working experiences, National Chung Cheng University (CCU) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) to jointly promote the “TaiwanICDF Youth Overseas Technical Assistance Internship Program” on June 19, 2023. Based on the MOU, students interested in gaining international work experience and providing assistive services abroad can apply for TaiwanICDF’s overseas internships through CCU. They can do so if their expertise and qualifications match the requirements. The cooperative program not only can enable CCU to nurture its own young talents, but also can enhance the status in internationalization for both the students and the university. 

The MOU was signed by Dr. Zhang-Hua Fong, President of CCU, and Mr. Timothy T. Y. Hsiang, Secretary General of TaiwanICDF. At the signing ceremony, Dr. Fong stated that according to the agreement, TaiwanICDF will offer various overseas experience opportunities, such as internships, volunteer works, and Mandarin teaching jobs for selected CCU students. Once the students are sent to their designated locations, experts who serve in Taiwan ICDF Technical Missions in that particular area will be assigned to support as their mentors. Additionally, during their overseas stay, living allowance, subsidy for language training, insurance, return flight ticket, and the accommodation will all be provided.

As for CCU, Dr. Sheng-Ju Chan, Dean of CCU Office of Student Affairs, pointed out that in accordance with the MOU, CCU will actively support TaiwanICDF in promoting the TaiwanICDF Youth Overseas Technical Assistance Internship Program. In addition, the university will recommend students who are interested and qualified for participation in the overseas internship program, in adherence with the requirements from TaiwanICDF. Upon completion of their service, the students will be eligible for academic credits of the internship.

CCU Career Development Center, which is responsible for promoting this cooperative program, also explained that TaiwanICDF generally makes announcement for its overseas volunteer demand at the beginning of each year and encourages applications from students of all partner universities to participate in the program. After having been through the application packet review, screening interview, and the completion of the task-related training, the selected students will be dispatched to their arranged location to do their one-semester internship. Students who are interested in applying for TaiwanICDF Overseas Volunteers Program can make contact with the CCU Career Development Center and submit documents including the resume, academic transcripts, health declaration forms, the letter of undertaking for the internship, the recommendation letter from the applicant’s advisor, the language ability certificates, and other relevant paperwork to complete the application process.

TaiwanICDF further disclosed that, the students who demonstrate excellent performance in their internship will be considered afterward as the potential candidates for future job positions at TaiwanICDF. When suitable job vacancies arise, these students may be promoted and trained to become the members of TaiwanICDF Technical Missions. Moreover, for male student volunteers planning to apply for the substitute military service in diplomacy after they have graduated from university, TaiwanICDF has set specific eligibility requirements to assist their transition from their previous internship to the Taiwan Youth Overseas Service if they wish to do so. CCU emphasized that this partnership with TaiwanICDF will offer excellent opportunities for its students to broaden their perspectives on life and improve their capabilities to thrive in the future environment. This is also a significant step on industry-university cooperation and cross-disciplinary internationalization, for CCU.