Written by: Yan Xinyu, Third-year Student of Honors College (History Department, Class of 115) Edited by: Public Affairs Student Affairs Team, Holistic College
The 12th Asian Youth Leaders Travel and Learning Camp (AYLTLC 2025) was held in Singapore from February 13 to 17, 2025. The Student Affairs Office’s Honors College provided guidance and financial support for this event, allowing the current president, Yan Xinyu, to represent the college students in the camp.
The participants of this event included young students from various countries in Asia. The five-day camp truly lived up to its name, balancing both "travel" and "learning." On one hand, it guided students to observe and engage with the local culture, helping them understand Singapore’s unique history and development, and uncover aspects worthy of learning. On the other hand, combining the experiences from the travel, the camp provided a platform for students to brainstorm, discuss, and engage in dialogue through heterogeneous group discussions. The camp concluded perfectly with a final presentation that demonstrated social practice, diverse thinking, and leadership spirit.
The camp officially opened at the National University of Singapore (NUS), one of the top universities in Singapore and a world-class institution. Professors from NUS delivered several keynote speeches on topics including, but not limited to, history, art, economics, healthcare, and artificial intelligence. These talks encouraged students to reflect on current social issues and inspired them to propose potential solutions. During group sessions, there were many interactive and ice-breaking activities that allowed members to quickly get to know each other, preparing them for the next day's travel itinerary.
The second day was dedicated to "travel" or "exploration." First, we visited Chinatown, which is home not only to Chinese Buddhist temples but also Hindu temples and mosques. This reflects Singapore's multicultural harmony and its respect and tolerance for different cultures. Next, we visited the Urban Redevelopment Authority Gallery and the NEWater Visitor Centre. The former revealed how Singapore transformed from a small fishing village into an international financial hub, and it introduced the city's urban planning and construction processes, highlighting the challenges faced along the way. The latter explained how Singapore, with its limited water resources, maximizes the use of rainwater and seawater, converting them into reusable water resources. In addition to water management, Singapore is also committed to "zero waste" in waste treatment and resource recycling, carefully sorting and reusing everything, embodying a strong spirit of sustainability.
The third day was the day for the final presentations. Each group, based on their experiences and the lessons learned over the previous days, raised interesting questions and proposed feasible solutions from the perspective of students or leaders. This process was not easy; the first challenge was overcoming language and communication barriers, followed by the generation of relevant topics. However, through gradual communication and discussion, the groups were able to reach a consensus and put their ideas into action. In the end, producing a complete outcome was both gratifying and rewarding. Since the group members’ back ground are very different, including students from China, Philippines, India, and other countries, the process of traveling, learning, and discussing together not only enhanced communication, teamwork, and cultural awareness but also provided new ways of thinking and observing. It also allowed us to learn from the strengths of others.
As the final presentations came to a successful close, the camp was drawing to an end. On the last day, during the closing ceremony, the participants wore traditional clothing representing their respective countries and received their awards in the auditorium of the National University of Singapore. Amidst the warm and joyful atmosphere, a vibrant cultural tapestry was created, blending together diverse traditions. At the same time, there was a sense of bittersweetness as the time to part ways approached, but more than anything, there was a feeling of gratitude toward the companions and joy for having gathered together.
In conclusion, from any perspective, this was a rare and precious opportunity that allowed the college students to engage with young leaders from other countries, learn from each other, and challenge one another. While broadening their horizons, they also returned with a wealth of experiences.
Yan Xinyu (right, 1st) participated in the group that won the Best Creativity Award.
Group photo of all participants of the 12th Asian Youth Leaders Travel and Learning Camp (AYLTLC 2025).
Report on this exchange activity published by the National Taiwan University of Education News:https://pr.ntnu.edu.tw/ntnunews/index.php?mode=data&id=23256