Release Date 13 December 2021     Mandarin

The final round of the 2nd National SDGs Youth Advocates Competition (全國SDGs青年倡議英文提案競賽) took place at the First Campus on Dec 3. There were 28 teams of 21 high schools and universities. While more from Taiwan, a few of the contestants were from Japan, Vietnam, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Belize, and Indonesia. All teams brought up action plans for issues based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“We are glad to see contestants provide high-standard proposals and give us performances that are beyond our expectations”

“This is the second year that our department hold the competition. We are glad to see contestants provide high-standard proposals and give us performances that are beyond our expectations,” says Dr. Emily Chen, Chair of the English Department.

The final consisted of two sessions, one in the morning for competitors of vocational high schools and one in the afternoon for competitors of universities.

In the morning session, 51 students from 15 teams of 11 vocational high schools competed for the championship. Especially touching was that two student teams took the trouble to come from Taitung to Kaohsiung for the final.

The competition teams brought up topics that have touched many of the SDGs, including zero hunger, saving the local language Taiwanese, sexual discrimination, gender equality, building a clean environment, decreasing food waste, reducing the production and consumption of plastics, and child labor.

These young students interpreted the goals in their ways and presented feasible action plans they could come about to solve these issues in front of the audience.

At the end of the morning session, the final winners were released. A student team from the Applied English Dept. of CSIC finished first, and judges were impressed by their solid team rapport and outstanding performance. A team from the Applied English Dept. of TCHCVS won second place, and another team from the Applied English Dept. of TCHCVSNOCSH won third.

In the afternoon session, 42 students from 13 teams of 10 universities jostled for trophies in the final. Interestingly, competitors were not all students majoring in English. Some were in Business Administration, Tourism Management, Tropical Agriculture and International Cooperation, and even Wood Science and Design. Besides, two teams were formed by international students.

The university teams discussed a variety of topics, including ocean pollution, gender equality, human right, carbon reduction, environmental protection, education resource, and responsible production and consumption. Through these presentations, judges and the audience can see how these students were concerned about the people and society. Moreover, the action plans delivered in their speeches showed the hard work these students had dug into these issues and hammered out feasible action plans to make a difference.

Coming out top from a sea of strong rivals wasn’t easy, but our students defeated these tough competitors. Two NKUST teams won first and second place, and a Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology team won third.

One NKUST champion team, formed by Chang, Yi-Wei (張奕崴) and Jhuang, Cin (莊芩), set their presentation topic as “WEI NEWS - Drinking Coffee Without Guilt (不再有罪惡感的享用咖啡).”

Their topic touched on both environmental protection and responsible production and consumption. The student team delivered the speech in a unique style -- to make the whole stage a news report room.

And they called on coffee retailers and coffee lovers to take steps to reduce carbon footprints and emissions for this planet. For retailers, students encouraged them to purchase locally roasted coffees and use plant milk rather than regular milk. For consumers, they suggested that consumers could carry their own coffee cups to fill the drink instead of using disposable paper cups at stores.

One thing that was worth mentioning was that Chang had attended the 1st Competition last year, only to place Honorable Mention at the finals. He decided to compete again this year, and his efforts have paid off.

“There are only nine years left for us to achieve the 2030 SDGs. To reach goals before the deadline, all of us need to take action to bring a sound and better future for our society in the years ahead...We're looking forward to seeing these promising young students could be not just an SDGs advocator but also an SDGs action doer.”

“There are only nine years left for us to achieve the 2030 SDGs. To reach goals before the deadline, all of us need to take action to bring a sound and better future for our society in the years ahead,” commented Vice President Lee, Jia-Hong. “Thanks to Taiwan for successfully curbing the pandemic, we can continuously hold a variety of events. Like this competition, it gives young students opportunities to express their viewpoints. We're looking forward to seeing these promising young students could be not just an SDGs advocator but also an SDGs action doer.”

 Extended interview with two NKUST winners will be released soon!

Translated/Edited by Jess Lin