The Youth Development Administration （YDA） under the Ministry of Education （MOE） was formerly the National Youth Commission directly under the Executive Yuan. It was incorporated into the MOE in 2013 in line with government reorganization. Some programs and personnel were merged into the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Labor, according to the nature of their work. To meet the needs of society and young people, over the years the YDA has established diverse experiential learning environments for youth, raised youth core competitiveness, built the capacity of youth for comprehensive development, targeted shaping youth values, and actively promoted other programs to assist youth development.
In a rapidly evolving global landscape, the YDA is guided by a policy vision of accompanying young people to develop their ideal self and become a power for change. We value youth empowerment, support autonomous development, and emphasize functionality and integrity in linking with formal learning contexts and learning through diverse experiences. Our work can be divided into three main areas.
- 1.Promoting youth career counseling and enhancing innovation capacity
To help young people develop diverse employment skills we strengthen youth career counseling systems, improve the functionality of school counseling services, encourage youths to advance their careers, and develop diverse workplace experience opportunities for young people. We continue to promote career exploration for junior high school graduates who have not gone on to further education or employment. To develop future outstanding talent in innovation and entrepreneurship we run a youth innovation capacity building program through a diverse creativity competition. We also draw up a youth policy white paper and map out a blueprint for youth development.
- 2.
Encouraging youth volunteering and stimulating public participation
We continue to promote platforms for youth policy participation, enhance opportunities and channels for young people to engage in public affairs, and strengthen a two-track counseling mechanism to support college student autonomy. We encourage youth to participate in community affairs and actively develop talent for public participation. Combining the resources of local governments, nongovernmental organizations, schools, and other institutions, and connecting with local youth social innovation service teams, we jointly set up youth volunteer centers, promote volunteering, hold award ceremonies for outstanding teams, and establish models of youth service.
- 3.
Strengthening diverse learning and broadening the international outlook of young people
We administer the Taiwan Global Pathfinders Initiative and promote youth international participation; encourage young people to attend international conferences, events, and programs; network with international youth affairs organizations; and raise the international outlook of young people. Additionally, we run a youth overseas volunteering program to encourage young people to volunteer abroad. We also promote youth travel and experiential learning, organize relevant activities, offer multiple channels for youth travel in Taiwan, and encourage young people to experience the local culture and environment and explore their self-worth. By promoting the Youth Education and Employment Savings Accounts Program, we encourage recent high school graduates to discover themselves. Through workplace, learning, and international exposure, young people can gain diverse experiences, develop independent thinking skills, and, after encountering the real world, better understand their future direction and goals.