Taipei University Empowerment Lecture: Ambassador Experience Sharing Session
- byVic

讀後心得
The International Office of National Taiwan University held a seminar titled "Towards the World 365 Days," inviting the Director of the North America Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 蔡育真, to share insights on the career of a diplomat. 蔡育真 emphasized the importance of participating in extracurricular activities based on her own experience and introduced the diplomat's "3-6-3" work model, highlighting the high pressure and challenges of the job. She encouraged students to actively cultivate an international perspective and improve their foreign language skills, and suggested that those interested in pursuing a career in diplomacy should be mentally prepared. This seminar provided students with an in-depth understanding of a diplomat's career and offered practical career planning advice.
National Taiwan University held a lecture titled "Going Global 365 Days," inviting the Director of the North American Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to speak on campus, aiming to provide students with a deeper understanding of a diplomat's career.
During the lecture, the Director encouraged students by sharing her own educational experiences, emphasizing the importance of participating in extracurricular activities for future careers. She recalled her involvement in the Model United Nations as a group leader and participating in debate competitions, through which she not only cultivated an international perspective but also developed communication and negotiation skills, all of which are essential qualities needed to enter the diplomatic system.
Furthermore, she mentioned the diplomat rotation system that operates on a "3-6-3" model, meaning three years of work in the home country, followed by six years posted abroad, and then returning to the home country for three years. She pointed out that a diplomat's job does not follow a regular schedule, often requiring them to be on standby due to changes in international circumstances, and they may even be urgently assigned to other countries in case of emergencies.
The Director told the students present that diplomats are responsible for maintaining relationships between countries, whether it is attending international conferences, negotiating with foreign officials, or addressing the needs of Taiwanese expatriates, all of which must be handled professionally under high-pressure conditions. She emphasized that while this work is quite challenging, it allows her to deeply appreciate that her efforts can directly influence Taiwan's international standing, bringing about positive change.
She shared the difficulties of balancing work and life, especially during postings, where the adaptation of family members presents a major challenge. Maintaining mental and physical health in high-pressure situations is also extremely important. She advised students interested in pursuing a diplomatic career to prepare mentally in advance and learn to manage stress to ensure they can competently handle the job in the long term.
For students interested in becoming diplomats, she stated that this job is particularly suitable for those who love making friends, are interested in learning foreign languages, and wish to contribute to Taiwan's future. She encouraged students to actively cultivate an international perspective, improve their foreign language abilities, and enhance their negotiation and communication skills, all of which will benefit their future development in the field of diplomacy.
The International Office stated that this lecture not only provided students with a deeper understanding of a diplomat's work but also offered valuable career planning advice. They look forward to seeing more students dedicating themselves to this challenging and honorable field to contribute to Taiwan's international affairs.