Taipei, Aug. 17 (CNA) Almost 300 second- or third-generation overseas Taiwanese concluded Friday an eight-week internship program aimed at helping them understand more about Taiwan.
The "Taiwan Tech Trek 2007, " an annual event entering its third year, was organized by the National Science Council (NSC) and received 271 overseas Taiwanese aged between 18 and 30 from 23 countries, offering them internships at government agencies, non-profit organizations, private companies and special group projects.
After a one-week group orientation during which the members visited several organizations in southern Taiwan, the members spread out to different parts of Taiwan for the internship program.
The summer program is part of the government's efforts to recruit new generations of overseas Taiwanese to raise Taiwan's competitiveness.
Compared to their elders, the younger generation possess better language abilities, professional expertise and international savvy that are advantageous to Taiwan, an NSC staff member said, adding that building a strategic liaison with this generation can attract long-term returnees for the future and ultimately increase international support for Taiwan.
The academic conference was categorized into five groups -- natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, life sciences and the humanities -- with topics such as Taiwan's environmental pollution, public diplomacy strategies and software management.