Taiwan’s Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao recently met with the recipients of the Taiwan Scholarship and Huayu Enrichment Scholarship at the Presidential Office. Representing National Changhua University of Education (NCUE) was Min Qi Goh, a student from the Department of Guidance and Counseling, originally from Malaysia. During the event, Goh shared her experiences of studying and living in Taiwan, highlighting her impressions of the openness of Taiwanese society and the engagement of young people in issues such as politics and gender. She remarked that as a university student, she never imagined having the opportunity to visit the Presidential Office and engage with the Vice President—a gesture that highlights Taiwan's government’s strong support for international students.

The Taiwan Scholarship and Huayu Scholarship programs, established by the government, encourage outstanding international students to pursue degree programs or short-term Mandarin studies in Taiwan. These initiatives aim to promote cultural exchange among young people from different countries, enrich Taiwan’s educational environment, and promote the Chinese language and Taiwanese culture.

In addition to Min Qi Goh, NCUE’s current scholarship recipients include Monica from India and Muhammed Enes Mermer from Turkey, both enrolled in the International Master Program in Engineering; Mohit Chand from India and Idhea Pryas Islami from Indonesia, enrolled in the International Program for Master of Science in Materials and Biological Technology and Science Education; and Sheau Fung Wong from Malaysia, enrolled in the Department of Guidance and Counseling.

On November 22, 2024, scholarship recipients from various universities, led by Deputy Minister of Education Ping-cheng Yeh, visited Vice President Hsiao. According to Min Qi Goh, the Vice President welcomed all international students to Taiwan and expressed her care for their living and academic condition. Drawing from her own international education background, Vice President Hsiao encouraged the students to share their experiences in Taiwan and provide suggestions to enhance Taiwan’s education environment, with the ultimate goal of making Taiwan a preferred destination for international students to pursue enriching learning journeys.

When sharing her experiences of living in Taiwan, Min Qi Goh expressed her admiration for the country’s open and inclusive atmosphere. She particularly noted the active participation of young people in discussions about the issues involving politics, gender, education, etc. She observed that topics such as marriage equality and gender diversity are openly discussed in classrooms and public spaces, with young people often playing a leading role in promoting these ideas. This experience led her to reflect on the more conservative cultural and educational environment of her home country and inspired her to consider how such openness might be encouraged.

The event left Min Qi Goh deeply impressed by the government’s attention to international students. She described the schedule as well-organized and noted the warm responses from the Vice President and attending officials, which encouraged lively exchanges of ideas among students. The atmosphere was vibrant yet formal, resembling an international mini forum, with many topics resonating deeply with her. Min Qi Goh expressed how honored she felt to visit the Presidential Office and engage in meaningful dialogue with the Vice President and fellow international students.

NCUE has long been committed to attracting international students to enrich the campus's multicultural environment. The invitation for NCUE’s Taiwan Scholarship recipients to participate in this Presidential Office event highlights the outstanding qualities and confidence of NCUE students.