On December 14th (2023), a graduation ceremony and achievements exhibition was held at the NPUST Library for the 41st Class of the Overseas Youth Vocational Training School. Twenty students graduated this year, and with epidemic restrictions now lifted, many parents once again were able to come to Taiwan to attend this important moment in their children’s lives. The ceremony was presided over by NPUST’s president, Chin-Lung Chang, who personally presented graduation certificates to the students. The acting president of the Sarawak Taiwan Graduates Association, Bong Kheng Liong, also came on stage to share a word of encouragement. Afterwards, awards were presented by Director Hung-Liang Lai of the Department of Plant Industry, for academic achievements, and by Assistant Professor Uei-Chern Chen for excellent conduct.
NPUST President Chin-Lung Chang said “today, 20 students from Malaysia and Vietnam are graduating after receiving practical training in Taiwan for two years. Graduation is a milestone and it represents a new beginning. We look forward to the achievements you will make in the future, and believe that you will achieve greater success because of your efforts and courage.”
Acting president of the Sarawak Taiwan Graduates Association, Bong Kheng Liong, addressed the students saying “studying in Taiwan’s quality learning environment, the two years passed quickly. Graduation is just for a moment in time; so I hope you will continue your studies or return to your hometowns to development yourselves and make good use of what you have learned”. One of the graduating students, Tan Wei Pin, represented his class: “Looking back on the time at NPUST, we acquired agricultural knowledge and also gained friendships. This unique and fulfilling academic journey at the Overseas Youth Vocational Training School will be a source of pride for all of us. We learned to respect nature and cherish life, feel the warmth of the land in the fields, and learn the mysteries of science in the laboratory—and we grew together with the crops we sowed.” This offering of the Overseas Youth Vocational Training School program will be the final in its current form. The students who participated received 2 years of practical training complemented by theoretical courses. The university also arranged for the students to make numerous visits to seedling farms, vegetable gardens, orchards, leisure farms and ranches. Through on-site observations and practice, the students were able to fully apply what they had learned, and learn by doing. With the knowledge and skills that the students have acquired, they should be able to immediately transition to the workplace when they return to their places of residence. Five of the twenty students, however, have decided to remain at the university and continue with further studies. Whether they continue studies or proceed straight to their careers, expectations are that as long as they work hard, they will achieve fruitful results.
