To deepen educational collaboration between Taiwan and Southeast Asian countries, the Ministry of Education has entrusted the National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) to establish the Taiwan-Thailand International Talent Cultivation Base. The Base was officially launched at NPUST yesterday, with a ceremony attended by university officials, including NPUST President Chin-Lung Chang, Vice President Shang-Min Ma, and Vice President Jui-Jen Chen, as well as National Sun Yat-sen University Project Manager Wang Chien-Feng.
This establishment of the base sets a key milestone for the Ministry of Education’s “International Students and Talent Retention Program”. As the lead institution, NPUST will work with National Chung Hsing University and National Sun Yat-sen University to promote the initiative. The three universities will set up offices in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Khon Kaen, respectively, helping Taiwan’s higher education institutions build strong collaborative networks in different regions of Thailand. This localized approach will facilitate tailored educational and talent exchange strategies, fully activating the Taiwan-Thailand educational and talent exchange pipeline.
In his address, President Chin-Lung Chang, who is also the project director, stated that the new base will provide more diverse and in-depth learning and development opportunities for students from both countries. He noted that with dedicated resources, students will be able to participate in dual-degree programs, corporate internships, career exploration, and cultural exchange activities. President Chang emphasized that the establishment of the hub also marks a new phase in Taiwan-Thailand international talent cultivation. He anticipates that the base will become a crucial platform for student mobility and for enhancing international perspectives and career competitiveness. He hopes that through cross-sector cooperation between industry, government, and academia, they will be able to cultivate outstanding international talent with a global vision and practical skills.
Vice President Shang-Min Ma, the project’s executive director, also highlighted in his speech that the establishment of the base is a significant step in the government’s policy to recruit international talent and strengthen collaboration across sectors. He added that the hub would continue to promote Chinese language learning, specialized programs, and technical training to help Thai students and young people gain access Taiwan’s learning resources and development platforms. By improving their language abilities and professional skills, we can help pave the way for their future careers in Taiwan.
The International Talent Cultivation Base is part of a 2024 initiative launched by the Ministry of Education. The ministry previously entrusted six technical universities to establish hubs in Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines, and the results have been considerable. This year, the program expanded to Thailand, with NPUST leading the overall planning. The initiative aims to deepen educational and industrial cooperation between Taiwan and Thailand, and encourage more outstanding students to study and pursue careers in Taiwan. Based on the core principles of the Ministry of Education’s “International Academia-Industry Collaboration Alliance,” the overseas bases will be responsible for helping students with pre-departure language and cultural training and providing counseling services designed to reduce adaptation issues after arriving in Taiwan, and improve learning outcomes. The bases will also connect businesses and higher education resources in both countries to promote academic and industrial collaboration.
