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【Translator: Zhi-Yu Yang】

【Promotion of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) series】

2023-10-06 On October 6^th, the National University of Kaohsiung hosted a " Lecture of Excellence" in which they invited Yang Ru-Yi, the Director of the Training and Employment Center, Bureau of Labor, Kaohsiung City. The lecture was titled "Multiple Perspectives on Youth Employment" and delved into Taiwanese youth's current employment situation. Yang Ru-Yi also shared her educational and employment experiences, encouraging students to explore various options before settling on their career goals. She also emphasized the importance of using government-provided subsidies and counselling resources to enhance competitiveness. The event was opened, and the Dean of Student Affairs, Cai Xing-Zhi, gave acknowledgements.

Yang Ru-Yi, the Director of the Training and Employment Center, Bureau of Labor, Kaohsiung City, delivered the lecture. It also featured a discussion by Zhuang Shu-Zi, an Associate Professor in NUK's Department of Kinesiology, Health and Leisure Studies. Interestingly, Yang Ru-Yi and Zhuang Shu-Zi are close friends from their university days.

Yang Ru-Yi shared her personal, educational journey. Her mother encouraged her to consider a teacher training school with free tuition and immediate employment prospects upon graduation. On the other hand, her father encouraged her to pursue her interests and ideals at a university.

Ultimately, she attended National Taiwan University (NTU), majoring in Sociology (Applied Sociology track), becoming financially independent by working part-time jobs while studying. Her work included tutoring and serving as a teaching assistant while actively participating in extracurricular activities, such as being a member of the "China Youth Corps-Lulala." She never neglected her studies and was known for her proactive approach in class, sitting in the front row and frequently asking questions. Her dedication to learning was evident through several academic awards she received.

Yang Ru-Yi used her own life as an example, mentioning that at one point, she had not considered continuing with postgraduate studies, pursuing a career in public service, or even entering into marriage. However, in time, she did all of those things. She emphasized that one should embrace "seizing opportunities as they come" and maintain an open mindset regarding career choices, as there is no one-size-fits-all path. She also reminded that in today's era, it's challenging for individuals to excel solely in a single field, and diversifying one's knowledge or engaging in interdisciplinary learning is crucial to enhancing one's competitiveness.

Regarding job hunting, which is a concern to most people, Yang Ru-Yi referred to labor department's big data analysis, such as the "Youth Labor Employment Status Survey" and the "Salary and Employment Navigator for College Graduates." For instance, the average job search duration is approximately 1.8 months. Regarding first-time employment considerations, factors like "job stability" and "salary and benefits" are the most significant, accounting for over 60%. Other factors that are important to job seekers include "convenient commute," "ability to learn knowledge and skills," and "applicability of learned skills," each of which is important to around 40%. "expecting to access employment information" are common concerns. Yang Ru-Yi used this information to encourage young students to use government resources well. This includes career assessments and counselling to understand their interests and personality traits for selecting suitable career paths. She also encouraged them to proactively stay informed about labor market trends and enhance their professional skills.

Yang Ru-Yi holds a Master's degree from the Institute of Applied Sociology at National Taiwan University. She has held various positions throughout her career, including serving as the Executive Secretary of the Taipei Association of Wage-Earners, a Lecturer in career of education at the National Pingtung University of Education, and the Director of the Kaohsiung City Government Labor Bureau Bo-Ai Vocational Training Center. She is now the Director of the Training and Employment Center, Bureau of Labor, Kaohsiung City.

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#SDG4 #SDG8