Video on Taiwan education wins top prize in Indonesian competition

Taipei, Nov. 28 (CNA) An Indonesian Ph.D. student was awarded the grand prize and NT$20,000 (US$718) at a ceremony in Taipei on Sunday for winning a short video competition aimed at sharing information about Taiwan with Indonesian citizens.

Triwandi Januar, 27, who studies at a university in Taoyuan won the honors in the category for students and working professionals for his three-minute video aimed at motivating his friends in Indonesia to come and study in Taiwan.

"We are comfortable studying in Taiwan because there are a lot of scholarships that the Taiwan government offers to us. That's why I made the video," Triwandi told CNA.

In Taiwan since September 2017, Triwandi said he graduated with a master's degree while on scholarship and is now currently completing his Ph.D., also while on scholarship.

In addition, the process for Indonesian students to study in Taiwan is not complicated, and the two countries' representative offices will help with passport and visa applications, he said.

Another benefit for Indonesians studying here, Triwandi said, is that Taiwan is Muslim-friendly and offers access to prayer rooms in many locations.

"My Taiwanese friends are quite open-minded and accept me and my faith. I have to pray five times a day and my Taiwanese friends all accept it," Triwandi said.

The video competition, which was organized by the Indonesia Economic and Trade Office (IETO), also had a category for migrant workers, won by Suci Puspitasari, a caregiver from New Taipei.

She took the top prize for her 2 minute, 50 second video about traveling from Taichung to Chiayi to visit its sights and landmarks.

Suci was not able to attend the award ceremony, however, because her employers would not agree to give her a day off, and her prize and the NT$20,000 award was accepted on her behalf by her younger cousin, a factory worker from Taichung named Maru.

The winning video featured scenes and information on Alishan National Forest Recreation Park and the Wenhua Road Night Market in Chiayi City and invited migrant workers to visit.

IETO Representative Budi Santoso told CNA the main objective of the competition was to give Indonesians in Taiwan the opportunity to contribute to protecting Indonesian citizens and help them assimilate into Taiwanese society.

A total of 89 entries were received by IETO before the top three of the two categories were honored at the ceremony, Budi said.