TMU hosts New Southbound Policy Elite Study Program

TMU hosts New Southbound Policy Elite Study Program

2024-05-09

Young adults from Southeast Asia began a six-month study program last year at Taipei Medical University. The program has offered a chance to learn from doctors and professors at the school. The participants also got to experience life in Taiwan and learn Mandarin Chinese. FTV reporter Stephany Yang met some program participants to hear about their experience.

In a study abroad program hosted by Taipei Medical University and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, participants have toured the Dadaocheng, Kenting, Alishan, Taipei 101, Jiufen, and Pingxi. They’ve enjoyed Taiwanese opera and even learned how to make pineapple cakes. One participant, Chris Indradmojo, hails from Indonesia. His background is in emergency medicine.

Chris Indradmojo
Program participant
I aim to broaden my connections and enhance my knowledge and skill in the medical emergency and for my institution and my country. I aspire to bring insight into medical education and health systems in developed and modern countries like Taiwan.

Another participant is Mi Mi Aung, a dentist from Myanmar.

Mi Mi Aung
Program participant
I was working as a general dentist in our country at a private clinic for about four years. I applied this program because I tihnk this program is not only related to medical health subjects, not only enhance my background knowledge in dental health but also other fields like public health,nursing nutrition. I think it is very holistic.

Rosemary Cerdan Tan is from the Philippines. She previously worked at the Department of Health in the Philippines. After this program, she plans to get her master’s at TMU.

Rosemary Cerdan Tan
Program participant
I was working in the Department of Health in the Philippines at the ICT office. It is the IT office of the Department of Health. I decided to join the program to gain more exposure and be immersed in the ICT practices in healthcare here in Taiwan because Taiwan is known for maximizing the use of ICT in health as well as the very comprehensive health care insurance in your country. It is really fascinating to see how you use modern healthcare technologies in the facilities because we visited several hospitals here in Taiwan. Mainly Taipei Medical University Hospital and also the other hospitals affiliated with TMU.

In August 2023, 15 professionals from Southeast Asian countries joined TMU’s study abroad program. Applicants with a background in health care, biological sciences, laboratory work, and data analysis were selected. During the six-month program, they’ve taken part in eight hours of medical-related courses and six hours of Mandarin courses a week. They’ve also visited scenic attractions, taken cooking courses, and participated in other cultural experience activities.

Rosemary Cerdan Tan
Program participant
So far, apart from the lectures and healthcare topics that we had, we had several cultural expeirnce actiivties. We went from Taroko National Park to Alishan. Even to Pintung, the southernmost part of Taiwan. But I guess the most memorable that I would have would be just the simple daily YouBike trips to the campus and going back to the dormiatiory. I really loved the transportation and also the use of YouBIke here in Taiwan.

Mi Mi Aung
Program participant
We visited Dadaocheng old street. We wore a traditional Chinese costume called qipao. We all dressed up and also did makeup. We walked around the old street and visited a tea house and some temples. I felt very happy at that time. Everyone on the street at that time was looking at us. It was quite memorable.

TMU’s study abroad program aims to support the Tsai administration’s New Southbound Policy, by deepening people-to-people exchanges in the health care sector.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

北醫大推新南向專班帶領學生體驗台灣文化

2024-05-09

15名來自東南亞各國的優秀學生，從去年8月透過外交部計畫徵選來台，由北醫大進修推廣處規畫為期半年的專業領域的學習與交流。學員們也體驗了台灣的生活並學習了中文。一起來看看!

由台北醫學大學與外交部主辦的北醫大新南向專班，學員們參觀了大稻埕、墾丁、阿里山、台北101、九份和平溪，還欣賞台灣歌仔戲及體驗手做鳳梨酥。一位來自印尼的學員Chris Indradmojo，主修為急診醫學。

[[學生 Chris Indradmojo]]
"我的目標是拓寬我的人脈，並提高我在醫療緊急情況以及我的機構和國家方面的知識和技能。我渴望深入了解像台灣這類的已開發國家的醫學教育和醫療系統。"

另一位學員是來自緬甸的牙醫Mi Mi Aung。

[[學生 Mi Mi Aung]]
"在我的國家，我是一名私人診所的牙醫，大約工作四年了。我申請這個計畫是因為我認為這個計畫，不僅學到許多醫學健康的知識，且增進我在牙齒醫學方面的專業知識，還增強有關公共衛生、護理營養等其他領域的知識。我認為這是非常全面的。"

Rosemary Cerdan Tan來自菲律賓。她之前曾在菲律賓衛生部工作。結束這個計畫後，她打算在北醫大進修，獲取碩士學位。

[[學生 Rosemary Cerdan Tan]]
"我當時在菲律賓衛生部的訊息與通信技術部門工作，這是衛生部的IT辦公室。我決定參加該計劃是為了獲得更多的機會接觸並了解，台灣醫療保健中的信息通信實踐技術。因為台灣善於利用資通訊技術在健康照護服務上，以及台灣非常全面的醫療保險。能在台灣的醫院見識到現代醫療科技真的很有趣，我們參觀台灣幾間醫院，主要是台北醫學大學附屬醫院以及台北醫科大學附設醫院。"

2023年8月，來自東南亞國家的15位專業人士加入北醫大新南向專班。錄取的人具有醫療保健、生物科學、實驗室工作和數據分析背景。在為期六個月的課程中，他們每週參加八小時的醫學相關課程和六小時的中文課程，也帶領學員參觀台灣著名景點，烹飪課程及其他文化體驗活動。

[[學生Rosemary Cerdan Tan]]
"到目前為止，除了講座和保健專題之外，我們還進行一些文化體驗活動。我們從太魯閣國家公園出發前往阿里山，甚至到台灣最南端的屏東。但我想我最難忘的就是每天騎YouBike去校園和返回宿舍的路程。我喜歡台灣的交通，也喜歡騎乘YouBIke。"

[[學生Mi Mi Aung ]]
"我們參觀了大稻埕老街，換上中國傳統旗袍、梳妝打扮，繞著老街走了一圈，參觀茶館和一些寺廟。我當時覺得很幸福，街上的每個人都在看我們，令人難忘。"

北醫大規劃的新南向專班，希望透過深化醫療保健領域的民間交流來支持蔡英文政府的新南向政策。

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In November 2021, Taiwan opened its de facto embassy in Lithuania, as it’s the first office in Europe to have Taiwan in its name. But now Gitanas Nauseda, the Baltic country’s president, has raised the issue of potentially changing the representative office’s name in order to bring stability to his nation’s relations with China. So, is the de facto embassy about to undergo a name change?

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Joseph Wu
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We’ve recently being evaluating our relations with our diplomatic allies. I can honestly share with everybody that we aren’t experiencing any diplomatic problems. But I am worried to see China behaving in these ways.

In the short-term, Wu doesn’t foresee any diplomatic issues, but he still admitted that he has some concerns.

Joseph Wu
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Let me give an example: let’s say there’s a nation that’s been dealing with unrest for a long period of time. Currently, our diplomatic ties absolutely don’t have any problems, because they know that we’re still helping them, and they’re extremely grateful for that. But if things in their country keep going the same way as before, I do worry a bit. There is also another diplomatic ally of ours that China is using neighboring nations to infiltrate the left wing extremists and thereby bring about internal turmoil. For this I must be honest that this creates concerns that are long-term in nature.

One of the countries Wu seems to be referring to is Haiti, which has been dealing with instability for a long time because of powerful gangs and political unrest. As for the other, Tuvalu and Guatemala were both suggested as possibilities. Taiwan is in a perpetual diplomatic dilemma, and so any small issue could turn into a big problem.

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Speaking at a House hearing on Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo put the focus on Taiwan and chip security.

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The [Trump] administration promised a US$10 billion investment by Foxconn to build a new manufacturing complex, create 13,000 new jobs. Foxconn turned out to be just that, a con.

A few years ago, the Trump administration had touted a plan to establish a US$10 billion LCD Foxconn fab in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The project never materialized. Now on the campaign trail for reelection, U.S. President Joe Biden is using the failed project as ammunition against his challenger Donald Trump.

Joe Biden
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Literally holding a golden shovel, promising to build the eighth wonder of the world. Are you kidding me? Look what happened. They dug a hole with those golden shovels and then they fell into it.

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Who let the ostriches out? Two majestic birds stroll down the road, giving a surprise to motorists passing by, who keep their distance just in case.

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Tsai Min-yang
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We followed them along the road, to keep traffic moving. When we got here they went into this space and I blocked the exit with my car.

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They used a black fabric bag to cover their heads and slowly loaded them onto a truck.

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