On 19 July 2016, Representative Ta-Tung J. Chang hosted a welcome dinner for the students from the five Taiwan senior high schools and five Singapore junior colleges that were participating in the 33rd R.O.C. - Singapore Student Exchange Program.
In his address, Representative Chang pointed out that the exchange program has seen the participation of 5,289 students over its 33 years. Through the experience of staying at the homes of Singaporean families, learning with Singaporean youths and visits to various places in Singapore, the program provides an opportunity for the young people from Taiwan and Singapore to not only understand each other’s cultures but also develop close friendships across borders.
Representative Chang hoped that the Taiwanese students would spend their time in Singapore to gain a better understanding of Singapore’s economic development in its 51-year history as well as experience firsthand the efficiency of the Singapore government and the industriousness of its people. In recent years, Taiwanese youths have made their mark at various international invention exhibitions hosted in cities such as Nuremberg and Geneva. Representative Chang hoped that Singaporean students heading for Taiwan at the end of the year would seize the opportunity to observe the creativity of Taiwanese youths.
A total of 80 students from Nei-Hu Senior High School, Nangang Senior High School, Yongchun Senior High School, Taipei Municipal Song Shan Senior High School, and Yucheng Senior High School participated in this year’s exchange program. Participating schools in Singapore included Hwa Chong Institution, Temasek Junior College, Raffles Junior College, Victoria Junior College and National Junior College. Students from both sides put up various entertaining performances for the audience which comprised principals and teachers from participating schools, and officials from the Taipei Representative Office in Singapore.
Group photo of Representative Ta-Tung Jacob Chang (front row, fifth from right) and visiting principals and teachers with the 33rd R.O.C. - Singapore Student Exchange Program.
