491 Foreign Students Complete Taiwan's First Industry Talent Program, All Secure Jobs Locally

The first Taiwan International Industry Talent Education Program has successfully graduated 491 foreign students from 26 universities, with all securing employment in 107 partner companies, achieving a 100% employment rate in Taiwan. Minister of Education Cheng Ying-yao stated that these foreign students represent a starting point for deeper connections with Taiwan, wishing them a life-changing journey in Taiwan and anticipating more future 'Quanta Barry Lam's'.

The Ministry of Education held the "Career Wings - Taiwan New Specialized Program Student Graduation and Stay in Taiwan Employment Launch Ceremony" today (11th).

Cheng Ying-yao said that in the face of global talent mobility and industrial development trends, talent has become a crucial key to national competitiveness. The new specialized program is one of the important strategies of the "Promoting International Students to Come to and Stay in Taiwan Mid-term Plan," which has been promoted through cross-ministerial cooperation among the Ministry of Education, the National Development Council, the National Development Fund, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs since the 113th academic year.

Cheng Ying-yao mentioned that the 491 graduates come from countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Japan, India, and Malaysia. Many left their homes to study in Taiwan, not only having to learn Chinese but also balancing their studies and corporate internships, which is not easy. Since the promotion of the new specialized program in the 113th academic year, it has cultivated 915 students. Through industry-academia cooperation, it assists international students in smoothly finding employment in Taiwan after completing their studies. In the future, Taiwan will continue to attract outstanding international talent to inject new momentum into Taiwan's industrial development.

Yang Yu-hui, Director General of the Ministry of Education's Department of Technological and Vocational Education, explained that the National Development Fund provides scholarships covering full tuition and fees for up to two years. Partner companies provide students with a monthly living allowance of at least NT$10,000, totaling NT$240,000 over two years, allowing students to study in Taiwan with peace of mind.

Yang Yu-hui stated that the 100% employment rate for the 491 graduates in Taiwan is significant. Among them, 440 entered STEM fields, 46 entered the semiconductor industry, and 5 entered the financial industry, becoming an important new force of talent for Taiwan's industries. This cohort also includes 107 partner companies. Among them, 6 companies, including A-Shing Engineering, Micron Technology Taiwan, Chung Hwa Engineering Consultants, Yili Construction, ASE Semiconductor, and Enmao Technology, have cultivated a total of 187 students, accounting for 44.63% of all graduates. These companies were awarded the "Talent Cultivation Partner Award" by the Ministry of Education. Additionally, 35 students passed a higher-level Chinese proficiency test before graduation, demonstrating their achievements in Chinese language learning.

Graduate representative Liu Fa-ming, a student from the Bachelor Program of Precision Design and Manufacturing at Chienkuo Technology University, said he is from Kupang in eastern Indonesia, where few students have the opportunity to study abroad or find overseas employment. He cherishes the opportunity to study in Taiwan through the new specialized program. Now that he has successfully graduated and entered the Taiwanese workforce, it is not only a personal achievement but also carries the expectations of the government, businesses, and teachers. He will do his best in his future role to demonstrate what he has learned.