The Ministry of Education’s Youth Development Administration (YDA) has long promoted deliberative democracy to encourage youth to engage in public affairs, holding physical trainings and other events. But in 2020, with the world gripped by the COVID-19 pandemic, almost everything has been affected and changed. Going “online” is no longer an option but an inevitability. That’s why YDA has launched a “2020 Deliberative Democracy Online Deliberation Research” project to study new models of civic deliberation, so future participation in public affairs will not be impeded or impacted by the pandemic or geographical distance.
The research involves five “online deliberations”. Participants will discuss familiar education topics to explore the possibility of virtual deliberation and develop practical models of operation. The sessions are scheduled next year on January 9, 10, 16, 17 and 24. YDA is recruiting people who care about education and are interested in deliberation to be “deliberative citizens” and “deliberative observers”. Each session will have 10-14 “deliberative citizens” and five “deliberative observers”. Selected participants who achieve full attendance will receive NT$1,000 for “deliberative citizens” and NT$500 for “deliberative observers” to thank them for taking part and helping out.
Please read the recruitment call on YDA’s website for registration requirements. There are a limited number of places for each session. Registration is open now until January 4, 2021. Go to the website (https://www.youthhub.tw/event-sign ) as soon as possible to book your place, and we’ll see you in the New Year for the “online deliberation” launch. Join us to digitize deliberation and put decision-making online.