Good policymaking starts with curious future leaders who are committed to converting ideas into impact. Nurturing such talent is the goal of CAPRI’s Young Policy Leaders program, which bridges the gap between academic learning and real-world policy practice by giving university and high school students in Taiwan and abroad the opportunity to gain experience at an international think tank.
Through this project, we partner with leading universities and invite students to gain hands-on experience in research, analysis, policy writing, convening, marketing, and other think tank operations.
We have hosted students from various prestigious institutions across the globe, including Australian National University, Columbia University, Harvard Kennedy School, National Chengchi University, National Taiwan Normal University, National Taiwan University, Northeastern University, Princeton in Asia, Stanford University, and University of Virginia.
Since 2024, CAPRI launched a high school internship program with Taipei Wego Private Senior High School, introducing young learners to policy research and analysis, and engagement with complex global challenges. Guided by three experienced mentors, the students were encouraged to build networks, understand the policy making process, develop a policy paper, and voice their viewpoints with leading experts. At the end of the program, the students presented their papers and engaged in vibrant discussion on their topic with their peers and CAPRI staff.
The students explored a diverse range of timely topics that align with the pillars of CAPRI’s research and reflect pressing challenges in the Asia-Pacific region and globally.
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My internship at CAPRI was an invaluable experience. Not only did I complete my first research paper but I also learned how to communicate ideas more effectively. Initially, I struggled to find information on my chosen topic. Fortunately, my mentor, Helen, helped me filter out irrelevant topics and develop a clear research direction.
During my internship, I explored how Bangladesh and Taiwan handle climate displacement through cases like Cyclone Sidr and Typhoon Morakot. I not only practiced policy analysis but also realized how resilience and justice shape real solutions beyond theory.
This internship was truly enlightening. I focused on tariff policies because it’s an urgent issue. My mentor, Austen, guided me throughout the research process and helped me structure my paper. I also learned to interpret and synthesize scholarly sources to strengthen my arguments. It was a pleasure to work with such a professional team.
This internship taught me that even if the public are well-educated to make the right decisions, if the information they base their judgement upon is false, democracy could never work, and a resilient society would be impossible. Without ensuring the quality of information transmitted, there couldn’t exist a healthy platform for information exchange.
My mentor Sunny’s guidance and encouragement helped refine my work and deepen my insights. The internship was truly rewarding and transformative: it strengthened my analytical and research skills while broadening my understanding of policy challenges.
I want to thank CAPRI for the research opportunity over the past few months. It’s been a unique chance to dive deep into a subject I care about, and I really appreciate the insights and support along the way. Thanks again for the opportunity and assistance.
Under my mentor Helen’s guidance, I learned how to craft a rigorous research paper, from structuring arguments to engaging critically with data. This internship not only sharpened my analytical and writing skills but also deepened my commitment to evidence-based policymaking.
