Kun Shan University (KSU) and its partner institutions, Cheng Shiu University and Minghsin University of Science and Technology, jointly held the unveiling ceremony for the Taiwan International Talent Circulation Base at the office in Makati, Philippines on February 5th. As the leading institution among the collaborating universities, Kun Shan University, together with the representatives from the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines, gathered for this significant event to promote bilateral university talent exchanges and industry-academia collaboration between Taiwan and the Philippines, in alignment with Taiwan's National Development Council's "Enhancement of Population and Immigration Policies" and the Ministry of Education's plan to "Facilitate the Entry and Stay of International Students in Taiwan".
The establishment of the International Talent Circulation Base in the Philippines signifies a milestone in executing the Ministry of Education's initiative. Representatives from both nations, including Mr. Wallace Chow, Taiwan Representative in the Philippines and Director Tony Lee from the Education Division, attended the ceremony. President Tien-Shang Lee of Kun Shan University, President Jui-Chang Kung of Cheng Shiu University, and Vice President Hsin-Te Liao of Minghsin University of Science and Technology, along with representatives from five other Taiwanese universities, participated in this event. Additionally, five Philippine universities, including Rizal Technology University and Polytechnic University of the Philippines, showed enthusiastic support, underscoring the significance of bilateral university exchanges between Taiwan and the Philippines.
Political Deputy Minister of Taiwan’s Ministry of Education, Mon-Chi Lio expressed his honor in witnessing the unveiling of the overseas base in the Philippines, a vital component of the International Talent Circulation Base (INTACT Base) initiative, a collaboration between the Ministry of Education and the National Development Council. This initiative, launched this year, aims to provide Chinese preparatory courses, academic exchanges, and international cooperation through INTACT Base, fostering further collaboration between bilateral universities. The Political Deputy Minister hopes that the program will encourage more outstanding Filipino students to study in Taiwan.
Ambassador Wallace Chow stated that the unveiling ceremony marks the formal establishment of the overseas base in the Philippines, which plays a crucial role in international cooperation and recruitment. He expressed high hopes from both the government and businesses, anticipating that it will facilitate more excellent Filipino students to study and work in Taiwan, aligning with the objectives of the New Southbound Policy. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines will also assist in the development of the INTACT Base in the Philippines.
Following the unveiling ceremony, representatives from the three Taiwanese universities, namely Kun Shan University, Cheng Shiu University, and Minghsin University of Science and Technology, along with Philippine Christian University, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the International Talent Circulation Base. This alliance aims to facilitate Filipino students to study in Taiwan, intern in the industry, learn Mandarin before arriving, and seamlessly adapt to their studies and life in Taiwan. It is hoped that in the future, it will attract more outstanding international talents to Taiwan and further enhance Taiwan-Philippines vocational education cooperation and exchanges.
President Tien-Shang Lee of Kun Shan University stated that apart from the base in Makati, two other locations will be established in Manila and Cebu, managed by Kun Shan University and Cheng Shiu University, respectively. These locations will be responsible for providing consultation of studying in Taiwan and Mandarin teaching courses. He expressed gratitude to all the distinguished guests for their presence, which contributed to the successful completion of the event. The International Industrial Talents Education Special program (INTENSE Program) emphasizes meeting the needs of the industry, with resources jointly provided by the government and enterprises. The curriculum is jointly planned by universities and enterprises, focusing on the STEM fields. Through the INTENSE Program and cooperation with enterprises, overseas enrollment and international industry-academia collaboration will be strengthened. Kun Shan University, as the designated lead institution for the Philippines' overseas base, will coordinate its establishment and promotion and assist universities nationwide in enrolling Filipino students and offering Mandarin courses. The unveiling of the INTACT Base marks a significant milestone in the project, and Kun Shan university is committed to attracting outstanding international students to Taiwan, nurturing excellent students, and retaining them for employment in Taiwan, thereby introducing high-quality talent to Taiwan.
