【Article by Han Pham】
Two decades ago, Gilroy Hughdonald Middleton graduated from NCCU's IMBA class of 2002, one of only two Belizean students to pursue an education in this distant land. Today, due to his influence and advocacy, nearly 50 Belizean students arrive in Taiwan each year, eager to embrace the possibilities that international education can bring. During his recent campus visit on June 11 as the recipient of the 4th Distinguished Taiwan Alumni Award, an award by the Taiwan Ministry of Education that recognizes the outstanding achievements of foreigners who have studied in Taiwan, enhances international exchanges, and inspires international students, Dr. Middleton shared his remarkable journey and the principles guiding him throughout his multifaceted career, including planning in three key areas: academics, career, and family.

As the room started to fill with students coming to hear about the sharing, Professor Jason Tsai, IMBA Director, was honored to introduce Gilroy Hughdonald Middleton. Hailing from Belize, a country located on Central America’s northeastern coast, Dr. Middleton arrived in Taiwan as a second-generation ICDF scholarship recipient. His journey began with curiosity and courage. Rather than following the path of many seeking education in the United States, he was drawn to Taiwan, fascinated by its academic rigor, vibrant culture, reputation for excellence in health care, welcoming community, and exceptional cuisine. During his time at NCCU, despite the language barrier, as his IMBA cohort consisted of 50% Taiwanese and 50% international students, the supportive environment in Taiwan made a lasting impression on Dr.Middleton. One particularly memorable moment came during the Lunar New Year when professors gave red envelopes to international students, a gesture that helped him connect more deeply with Taiwan’s cultural traditions. Upon returning to campus, he unexpectedly had a heartfelt reunion with an employee who had worked at NCCU for the past twenty years.

At NCCU's IMBA program, Dr. Middleton gained specialized knowledge that advanced his career and inspired him to contribute to the education system in his home country. Clarifying his aspiration to educate and inspire future leaders, he has played a vital role in the University of Belize's expansion, developing the MBA program and transforming undergraduate programs into specialized business fields, including accounting, business administration, finance, marketing, economics, and entrepreneurship. Moreover, he is working on a Master of Public Sector Management program to enhance his country's educational landscape further.

However, Dr. Middleton's time in Taiwan was not just an educational experience but a transformative journey that instilled in him a mindset of "never giving up." His encounter with SARS in Taiwan highlighted the importance of preparedness and adaptability—values he later applied at the University of Belize during the COVID-19 crisis. His studies in Taiwan taught him the power of perseverance and resilience, shaping his belief that everyone, regardless of their background, has the potential to make a positive impact. As Dr. Middleton shared, "I feel like I could do anything. The Taiwanese never give up, which inspired me to believe I could change the world."

In this spirit, Dr. Middleton joined the government’s efforts to tackle corruption and reform the country’s immigration system. "We developed and introduced the electronic passport system, which significantly improved security," he explains. This work was not only technical improvement but rooted in humanitarian efforts, including helping refugees and addressing migration issues in Central America. Dr. Middleton has also been deeply involved with the Refugee Eligibility Committee, processing amnesty applications for thousands of undocumented individuals and ensuring Belize remains a safe and welcoming destination. Under his leadership, Belize served as the interim chair of the Regional Migration Conference, where he collaborated with representatives from North and Central America to address migration and refugee protection challenges. Additionally, Dr. Middleton has been pivotal in advancing government sustainability initiatives in recent years, such as introducing electric buses to Belize City. This project underscores his ability to connect innovation with environmental responsibility, a value he embraced in Taiwan, where he witnessed firsthand the effectiveness of green technologies.

Taiwan's community-oriented mindset also profoundly shaped Middleton’s service and volunteerism approach. Inspired by volunteering at a bird park in Taiwan, Dr. Middleton has been actively involved with organizations in Belize, including the World Pediatric Project and the Belize Diabetes Association. This experience taught him the importance of giving back to society and nurturing future generations. His family has also inspired his work, as he strives to provide his children with the opportunities and resources he lacked growing up. His commitment to building generational wealth through land and sustainable agriculture reflects his dedication to creating long-term opportunities for his family.

Marking the end of his speech, Dr. Middleton encouraged students to approach their study abroad journey with a clear plan and an open mind. He again emphasized the importance of long-term and meticulous planning for every aspect of life. "Make the right choices and make sure you have your plan." he shared. "It's wonderful to come back after 20 years,". When bidding farewell to NCCU President Tsai-Yen Li, Dr. Middleton expressed his hope to return and promised potential collaboration opportunities between NCCU and the University of Belize.

【校訊記者呂羿穎報導】
教育部日前舉辦第四屆「全球留臺傑出校友獎」，其中一位來自貝里斯的優秀得獎者，正是2002年政治大學商學院IMBA校友Gilroy Hughdonald Middleton。學成返國後Middleton持續推進各領域發展，目前擔任貝里斯大學管理與社會科學學院行銷課程助理教授。此次來臺領獎期間特地重返政大，與學弟妹分享求學經驗與職涯發展歷程。

自政大畢業後， Middleton融合管理、行銷與金融專長，持續深耕貝里斯各項建設，從交通系統改良到創新通訊軟體應用的引進，他的足跡遍布各領域。在2020年時Middleton更獲貝里斯總理拔擢，出任移民部次長一職，協助建立嶄新的電子護照系統，大幅提升國家安全管理效能。作為貝里斯留臺校友會的活躍成員，他持續推廣臺灣獎學金計畫，積極促進臺貝學術交流，為深化兩國雙邊關係貢獻心力。

「政大的校園變得更加現代化了！」在演講前，在IMBA主任蔡政憲陪同下，Middleton漫步校園，驚嘆於20年來新建築的林立與軟硬體設施的優化。與校長李蔡彥會面時，他感性地表示：「校園景觀雖有改變，但嚴謹的學風與開放的討論空間，依然是政大不變的精神。」

除了自身回憶， Middleton也不吝與學弟妹傳承經驗，分享國際視野的重要性。與會學生包含多位IMBA學生，Middleton親切地詢問學弟妹的學習狀況，在校生與傑出校友的跨屆交流十分具有意義。他提及在臺灣的學習不僅提升他的專業知識，也體驗了多元文化和志願服務：「在IMBA的學習讓我深刻體會堅持不懈的精神，政大則讓我相信自己有能力改變世界。」他表示返國後推動的諸多政策革新，都源自在臺求學時期的啟發。這段經歷至今仍持續影響著他在貝里斯的工作理念。

最令人動容的是，Middleton與當年照顧他的教職員重逢時的溫馨一幕。即使已過了20年，再次會面仍讓教職員紅了眼眶，顯見跨國的情誼並不會隨著時間消散。他也提及某次過年時，學校師長還親自發給留學生們紅包。Middleton表示：「政大不僅提供豐富的學術資源，還讓我在異鄉感受到家的溫暖。」

此次的獎項不僅是對 Middleton個人成就的肯定，也彰顯臺灣在全球教育和文化交流中的重要角色。教育部設立全球留臺傑出校友獎，旨在表彰在各自領域取得卓越成就的在臺外籍留學生，並透過這些獎項強化與世界各國的友好關係。Middleton也以自身經歷勉勵在臺留學生，「善用臺灣豐富的教育資源，不論是考取國際認證如財務分析師證照，或是參與產學合作專案，都能為未來發展奠定良好基礎。」他也期許未來能促成政大與貝里斯大學的學術合作，為兩國教育交流開創新篇章。

【華語文教學中心訊】
本校華語中心每年於春、夏、秋、冬四季皆開設密集的正規華語課程，透過週一至週五密集的華語課程，讓來自世界各地的國際學生在短時間內，增加自己的華語聽、說、讀、寫四項華語能力。每位同學依研習目的，研習時間從三個月到一年，甚至長達兩年。這些學生多數期望未來可以在臺灣升學，加上本中心的教學品質結業生間口耳相傳，因此吸引不少國際生前來研習華語。

在這學期開學之際，當校內學生忙於選課及社團活動時，本中心主任、英文系教授姜翠芬登高一呼，推動了「語言與文化交流計畫」，旨在促進本校學生與國際學生之間的語言和文化互動。本計畫也獲得華教碩博學程老師鄭又寧、韓文系老師李賢周、東南亞語學系老師劉小慧的大力支持，最後成功媒合了43組臺灣與國際學生，相互為語言夥伴。

參與本計畫的語言夥伴們已經陸續建立聯繫，本中心國際學生在收到臺灣語伴的聯繫，相約見面時，感到既興奮又期待。有些語伴在見面後，談話非常投機，所以安排了周末一同出遊，而部分初來臺學習中文的國際學生則藉助語伴的專業知識，可以在課餘時間複習中文，臺灣語伴也透過實踐所學的教學專業，進一步提升了自身的能力。而修讀韓語及泰語的臺灣語伴，透過這次媒合，可以互換母語精進自己的目標語。

此外，自去年夏天開始本中心便將「語言交換牆」移至人流更多的一樓走廊，以提供更多校內同學與國際學生互動的平臺。這面牆深受本中心國際學生歡迎，許多學生常在課後駐足牆前，尋找語言交換夥伴。歡迎有興趣的本校學生自製吸睛的語言交換海報，拿到華語中心蓋章後張貼在語言交換牆，也可以將電子版海報寄送至華語中心的信箱（mandarin@nccu.edu.tw）。 華語中心期盼藉由此次計畫，成為連結本校學生與國際學生的橋樑，透過語言與文化交流，建立更多跨文化的友誼。