The Global Youth Trends Forum hosted by the Youth Development Administration （YDA）, Ministry of Education, is entering its 10th year. Networking events will run from October 18 to 22, climaxing with the forum on October 21 to 22. This year’s highly topical theme is “M∃TA-verse Era: A New World for Youth.” The theme explores the relationship between global trends in digitalization and young people. Discussion will reflect how youths can respond to the challenges of the age of globalization. Participants will exchange ideas on the three subtopics of interaction on socials, imagining digital life, and the future workplace.
With the easing of border controls and the return to normal social life, this year’s forum has been upscaled. The event has attracted a great deal of interest from young people around the world. It will be attended by 300 youths from 41 countries, including Taiwan. YDA Director General Chen Hsuch-Yu, who will attend in person, encourages young participants to use the forum to exchange diverse points of view, enrich their abilities and mindsets, and prepare to change the world.
The morning program on the first day boasts an impressive lineup of guest speakers. Audrey Tang was Taiwan’s first minister without portfolio for digital affairs and became the inaugural Minister of the new Ministry of Digital Affairs in August. She will discuss how Taiwan used technology talent and digital collaboration to pioneer technological pandemic prevention. Stan Shih, Founder and Honorary Chairperson of Acer Group, has been selected by BusinessWeek as one of the 25 Top Managers of the Year and as an Asian Hero by Time magazine. Teri Cannon is Founding President of Minerva University, which combines online courses and global experience to create a new global talent training model. Pratik Gauri, Co-founder of India’s blockchain focused unicorn startup 5ire.org, has been selected by Time magazine as one of its 40 Under 40. The multinational panel of speakers will guide participants to better understand global trends in the field of digital technology. Additionally, seven youths from different countries will share how digital technologies are impacting young people in their countries and how these changes are being addressed.
The morning of day two will feature a panel on “Cover Stories of Tech Elites” with five representatives from Taiwanese companies to share industry trends and their own personal experiences. The speakers are Ethan Tu, Founder of Taiwan AI Labs; Hsu You-ren, Founder of AgriForward; Huang Yen-lin, Co-founder of FAB DAO; Sega Cheng, CEO of iKala; and Liang Bor-sung, Senior Director of Forward-looking Technology Platforms at MediaTek.
The 2022 Global Youth Trends Forum will be livestreamed on the forum’s Facebook page and the YDA’s YouTube channel, with English audio and Chinese subtitles to give young people access to high-level analysis from technological giants. The event will be broadcast on the morning of October 21 from 9:50 to 11:50, Taiwan time. International youths everywhere are welcome to join to understand the mysteries of the metaverse. For streaming information and other updates, please check the forum website （iyouth.youthhub.tw/gytf） and the 2022 Global Youth Trends Forum Facebook page （fb.com/globalyouthtrendsforum）.