Taiwan Expands Youth Overseas Exchange Program, Boosts Support for Disadvantaged Participants

Taiwan's Ministry of Education is significantly expanding its "Youth Overseas Dream Fund" program for 2026, introducing 19 new international exchange themes to broaden opportunities for young people. This initiative builds on the success of its first year, which included the "Dream Factory Group" and "Overseas Soaring Group."

A key focus for the upcoming year is enhancing participation among disadvantaged youth. A new "Dream Assistance Plan" will prioritize indigenous, rural, economically disadvantaged, and special circumstances youth. Through a "training-as-selection" growth camp, 300 spots are reserved, aiming to boost the participation rate of these groups from 7.2% in 2025 to 13.3% in 2026.

“

The Canadian case was due to force majeure, not something controllable by the Ministry of Education or the youth, and cannot be attributed to the Ministry or the youth.

The program offers two main tracks: the "Dream Factory Group" encourages self-proposed projects for individuals aged 15 to 30 with subsidies up to NT$2 million. The "Overseas Soaring Group," a collaboration between ministries and the private sector, provides 10 themes for internships in international organizations, think tanks, startups, and local regeneration projects, with subsidies up to NT$1.5 million per person.

While a planned internship in Canada was canceled due to local policy changes, the Ministry of Education is securing international support. The French Office in Taiwan has partnered with the ministry since last year, supporting 116 Taiwanese youth in exchanges covering fields like aviation, animation, public affairs, and cybersecurity. Popular themes in the "Overseas Soaring Group" this year included professional skills training, new venture teams, and local regeneration initiatives.

“

The French Office in Taiwan has been cooperating with the Ministry of Education to promote the youth overseas dream program since last year, covering fields such as aviation, animation, public affairs, entrepreneurship bases, cybersecurity, culinary arts, and Nuit Blanche.