Department for Youth, Taipei City Government(青年局英文網)

The Taipei City Department for Youth announced today (24th) the recruitment guidelines for the inaugural members of the “Taipei City Government Youth Advisory Committee.” Commissioner Yin Wei of the Department for Youth emphasized that the Youth Advisory Committee is a city-level committee, chaired by Taipei City Mayor Chiang Wan-an, and will serve as a platform for youth representatives to engage in discussions on various municipal issues. Through this initiative, the city government hopes to incorporate the creative ideas and insights of young people into the formulation of municipal policies.

Mayor Chiang Wan-an also highlighted in a participatory forum yesterday that Taipei City has been promoting participatory budgeting for years, aiming to involve the public in shaping the city’s vision and future. Through sustained efforts, the participatory budgeting initiative has gradually expanded from communities to schools, and from citizens to students, encouraging young people to take part in the process. The establishment of the Department for Youth in June this year further reflects the city’s commitment to enhancing youth participation in public affairs and cultivating young talents. Mayor Chiang welcomed all youths interested in public affairs to contribute their creativity and put their visions for the city’s future into action, working together to create a shared blueprint for Taipei.

Commissioner Yin pointed out that the establishment of the Youth Advisory Committee is not only aimed at encouraging youth engagement in public affairs, but also at creating a platform for young voices to be heard. By listening to the thoughts and perspectives of young people, the city can infuse new energy and creativity “from the ground up” into its policy-making mechanisms, thus generating meaningful impact on the decision-making process. Commissioner  Yin stressed that youth represent the future of the city, and therefore should have a say in shaping that future. He added that since the Department for Youth's inception, it has reviewed and benchmarked similar youth committees from the central and local governments and collected diverse opinions to design a more inclusive Youth Advisory Committee for Taipei City. In addition to expanding the number of committee members nearly fivefold, the new design also ensures greater representation for students. Director Yin emphasized that besides welcoming young people who are registered residents of Taipei, the city also values the voices of students and young professionals living, working, or studying in Taipei, as the city is home to many top high schools and universities. The government aims to be a strong support system for all young people who call Taipei home.

To further promote youth participation in public affairs and ensure that the voices of young people are integrated into the policy-making process, the inaugural Youth Advisory Committee will focus on addressing Taipei’s key challenges and opportunities. Six working groups will be established, covering a range of critical topics: “Global Change and Sustainable Development,” “AI and Technology Governance,” “Social Equality Promotion,” “Industry Diversification and Career Empowerment,” “City Diplomacy and Geopolitical Strategy,” and “Youth Public Support.” These groups will respectively address issues related to ecological sustainability, digital technology, rights advocacy, industrial and employment development, international diplomacy, and youth welfare—topics that are of great importance to young people and have far-reaching impacts on the city’s development. Commissioner Yin stated that the new advisory committee's flexible working group structure is another advantage, allowing youth members to propose and form new groups based on emerging issues or areas of concern. The goal is to encourage cross-departmental collaboration within the city government to collectively drive change and shape the future of Taipei.

The Department for Youth further explained that the first round of recruitment for the Youth Advisory Committee will be conducted online. The term of service is two years, and all youths aged 15 to 45 who are either registered residents, studying, working, or residing in Taipei are welcome to apply before October 31. Applicants are required to submit an autobiography of up to 1,000 words, a 2-minute self-introduction video, and any relevant educational, professional, or public participation records. A selection committee will be formed by the city government, and experts or scholars may be invited to participate if necessary. The Department for Youth will also organize capacity-building workshops to equip youth members with comprehensive knowledge of municipal affairs and public deliberation skills before formal meetings begin, establishing a constructive cycle where youth proposals lead to governmental actions, driving municipal transformation. For more information, please visit the Department for Youth’s official website.