Government Employment Services Come to Campus: NCHU Launches Youth Salon

To help students plan their careers early and connect with government employment resources, National Chung Hsing University (NCHU) inaugurated its flagship Youth Salon on March 10. With funding support from the Taichung – Changhua - Nantou Regional Branch of Workforce Development Agency (WDA) , Ministry of Labor (MOL), the newly established Youth Salon—located on the third floor of the university’s Round Hall— offers a dedicated space for students. Professional staff from the regional branch are stationed on campus to provide one-stop career counseling, employment information, and hands-on activities, enabling students to access government career resources and job-readiness support during their studies.

The opening ceremony was presided over by NCHU President Fuh-Jyh Jan and Director–Hsiu Chen ,Liu of the Taichung–Changhua–Nantou Regional Branch of the WDA, MOL, and was attended by university administrators and faculty members. Designed around a “milk-tea-colored micro-universe” theme, Youth Salon features soft milk-tea-toned sofas, large sunlit windows, and wooden tables and chairs, creating a relaxed atmosphere somewhere between a café and a salon. In addition to one-on-one career consultations and a variety of career-related activities, the space also incorporates AR and VR interactive experiences, helping students gain a more comprehensive understanding of industries and job roles.

President Fuh-Jyh Jan noted that NCHU has been actively promoting career development and employability training. He expressed gratitude to the Taichung–Changhua–Nantou Regional Branch of the WDA, MOL, for its financial support in establishing Youth Salon, which brings together youth employment and training resources—previously dispersed across different government programs—directly on campus. With dedicated staff stationed at the site, career services and employment preparation assistance are available to students on weekdays. This semester, Youth Salon is also co-organizing nine career events with the Career Development Center of the Office of Student Affairs to help students better understand workplace trends.

Director–Hsiu Chen ,Liu stated that in the future, Youth Salon will host a series of career talks, employability workshops, and industry sharing sessions tailored to the needs of students from different academic years and disciplines. The program will also connect students with various employment initiatives and vocational training resources, offering more systematic career support to help young people identify suitable development paths.

According to the Career Development Center, the university has also collaborated with the regional branch this semester to launch a general education course titled Career Development and Life Planning. A total of 394 students registered for the course registration lottery, and due to overwhelming demand, enrollment was expanded to 110 students. The strong response highlights students’ growing interest in—and need for—career planning guidance. The course systematically guides students through the entire career planning process—from self-exploration and information gathering to defining development goals, formulating action strategies, implementing plans, and achieving career objectives. Through guest lectures and mentoring by industry professionals, company visits, expressive media activities, and interactive board games, the course helps students develop comprehensive career planning skills.