Exploring Taiwan in 120 Hours: Youth from 26 Countries Driving Sustainability

Co-organized by the CTCI Education Foundation and the Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy, the “Exploring Taiwan in 120 Hours—Powering You and Me” initiative marked its 11th anniversary in 2025. Centered on the theme of “Sustainable Energy,” the event was held in January, with a presentation and awards ceremony taking place in March. This year, a total of 13 teams were selected, bringing together students from 26 countries and 11 universities, underscoring the event’s strong international influence. Since its launch in 2014, the event has engaged 656 participants from 74 countries.

Cross-cultural on-site exploration of sustainability

With “on-site exploration” and “cross-cultural learning” as its core features, the event invites international students in Taiwan to form teams and complete a series of sustainability-related tasks within 120 hours while traveling to green sites across Taiwan. The event not only cultivates awareness of sustainability issues among young people, but also emphasizes teamwork and cross-cultural collaboration. Participants visited key locations such as CTCI Group’s second headquarters, the “Green Dreamworks” Incineration Plant in Miaoli, the wpd Environmental Education Center in Taichung, the SunnyRich Group in Chiayi, and Chenya Energy in Changhua, gaining firsthand insight into Taiwan’s achievements and challenges in renewable energy development. In addition, teams could select from up to 92 sustainability-related sites, including the Taiwan Power Company Guishan Hydro Power Plant and the Shalun Smart Green Energy Science City, to explore how communities from urban centers to offshore islands are advancing the green energy transition.

Multiple perspectives converging into sustainable action

During the event, participants not only gained a deeper understanding of energy and environmental issues, but also expanded their knowledge of Taiwan’s culture and industries through interaction with local residents and businesses. CTCI Education Foundation Chairman Eugene Chien pointed out during the event, “The purpose of this program is to encourage students to learn outside the campus and discover the real Taiwan. Taiwan may be a small island, but it has a rich culture and ecosystem of industries, and its most valuable resource is its well-educated and hard-working people.” Through teamwork and challenge-based learning, participants from diverse backgrounds worked through their differences, learned, and grew together. Chairman Chien especially praised the students’ ability to work together: “For most participants, it was the first time they teamed up with peers from four different countries, meaning they faced different cultures, languages, and ways of thinking. But from their presentations, it’s clear that everyone communicated well and came up with spectacular ideas.”

International collaboration inspiring new sustainable solutions

To encourage students to take action on sustainability, the organizers introduced a scholarship program to cultivating more talents with sustainable thinking and practical skills through generous incentives. This year, the first-place award went to the “Sustainable Development Growers” team from National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, comprising four members from Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Mexico. The team demonstrated outstanding teamwork and international communication skills, offering forward-looking insights on renewable energy. The two second-place teams were “ReRoot City” from I-Shou University and “4ces of Nature” from National Taiwan University. Both teams exhibited exceptional field observation skills and deep engagement with sustainability issues, providing concrete insights on topics ranging from energy policy and public awareness to local implementation, earning high praise from the judges.

Sowing the seeds of sustainability from Taiwan to the world

This year’s event saw a record-high level of international participation, welcoming for the first-time participants from Estonia, Iran, and Hungary. Serving as the convener of the event, Chia-pei Chou, Distinguished Professor at National Taiwan University, noted that the significance of this event lies not only in knowledge acquisition but also in cultural exchange and the stimulation of values. It allows each participant to create treasured memories of learning alongside partners from around the globe during their life journey. Participants also shared that through on-site exploration, they came to realize that “sustainable development” is not a distant slogan, but an issue closely tied to everyday life. For example, one team visited Liuqiu Island to interview local residents on how they harness solar and wind power; a participant from Mongolia was deeply inspired after observing corporate investment in green transition, expressing the hope to promote sustainability initiatives in their home country in the future.

The CTCI Education Foundation and the Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy stated that they will continue to promote “Exploring Taiwan in 120 Hours,” expanding international participation while deepening young people’s understanding and practice of sustainability. Through education, hands-on activities, and cultural exchange, the event showcase Taiwan’s sustainable development and helps young people worldwide turn sustainability concepts into action.