Taiwanese students explore sustainability in Australia

Twenty Taiwanese high school students embarked on a 19-day journey to Australia, transforming port cities into living classrooms. The "Island Ports・Sustainable Future: Taiwan × Australia Youth Island Sustainability Education Dream Fulfilling Program" took place from July 27 to August 14, integrating international education and sustainability action learning.

Organized by the Ministry of Education's Department of Secondary Education in conjunction with the Youth Development Administration's "Youth Billion Overseas Dream Fulfilling Fund Project," the program aimed to foster global understanding, cross-cultural communication, and sustainable action. Students and mentors explored themes of island ports, international education, and sustainable futures.

In Brisbane, students observed urban sustainability initiatives, examining riverfront regeneration, green space planning, public transport, and historic district preservation. Their journey continued to Moreton Island for an international student forum focused on UN Sustainable Development Goals 14 (Life Below Water) and 15 (Life on Land). There, they presented in English on island ecosystems, marine conservation, and sustainable tourism.

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Overseas dream fulfilling is not just a trip abroad, but an important learning process for cultivating students' international understanding, cross-cultural communication, and sustainable action capabilities.

The latter half of the program took place in Tasmania, where students studied Hobart's harbor, explored local ecosystems, and engaged in one-on-one exchanges with Tasmanian students. They discussed how port cities can balance culture, economy, and environmental sustainability, developing action plans for future urban development. Students also participated in innovation training at the University of Tasmania, focusing on design thinking and problem-solving related to real-world island and ecological issues.

Sun Min-yi, a section chief at the Department of Secondary Education, highlighted that the overseas experience is more than just a visit; it's a crucial learning process. The program includes pre-trip training, on-site learning, and post-trip sharing, ensuring that students bring their experiences back to their schools and continue collaborations with Australian partner schools, extending the impact of the 19-day program into long-term international educational action.

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Through pre-trip training, overseas field learning, and post-return results sharing, students will bring what they have seen and learned abroad back to campus and continue to exchange and cooperate with Australian partner schools, extending the 19-day overseas experience into long-term international education action.