National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and the Taiwan Fund for Children and Families (TFCF) have recently engaged in bilateral trade agreements. At the same time, they signed a memorandum of cooperation for the next three years to collaborate on international volunteer service projects at overseas locations in Southeast Asia, such as Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The goal is to extend the international volunteer services of NYCU, which are characterized by educational enthusiasm, technical expertise, and cultural depth, to Southeast Asia and South Asia.
Since 2018, cooperation between NYCU’s Service Learning Center (SLC) and the TFCF has helped the Cambodian non-profit school through renovation and construction initiatives. Moreover, in the summer of 2019, the Southeast Asia International Volunteer BAT Group, composed of students and faculty members, worked together with TFCF for 14 days. Their efforts led to the construction of a multi-purpose educational space with tiered seating, capable of accommodating more than 300 students, meeting the diverse teaching needs of the school, and serving as a venue for large community gatherings. Even though SLC has not been able to provide physical service abroad for two consecutive years due to the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has demonstrated flexibility and creativity. Through the creation of asynchronous cultural exchange videos, remote digital design workshops, and information educational camps, the SLC has maintained close cooperation with overseas partner organizations, allowing local youth and children to do so.
Since 2009, our SLC has progressively promoted the ‘International Volunteer Program.’ This initiative led to the creation of two volunteer teams: the “Jullay Team” for international volunteering in India and the “BAT Team” for Southeast Asia. These teams bring together students and faculty members from various departments who are curious, enthusiastic, and ready to contribute in the fields of international service, architectural design, cultural exchange, and science education. Each academic year, during the second semester, through comprehensive service-learning courses and 2 to 3 weeks of overseas field service in the summer, they are devoted to improving the well-being of people in overseas cooperation areas.
Through the International Volunteer Program, the SLC integrates our university’s expertise in digital design and interdisciplinary practical work into international service initiatives. This satisfies the university’s social responsibility and engages in global citizen participation activities. It also enables NYCU to serve as a bridge between Taiwan and neighboring countries, promoting a sustainable framework of mutual benefit and cooperation.
