To attract more talented international students to study in Taiwan, the Ministry of Education launched the " International Industrial Talents Education Special Program (INTENSE Program)" last year. Kun Shan University (KSU), appointed as the lead school for this program's Philippines base, hosted the "2024 INTENSE Program Education Fair" on October 24 at EARIST University in Manila. The event brought together several partner schools from Taiwan to directly engage with Filipino students and educators, showcasing the diversity and appeal of Taiwan's higher education system.
The fair provided Filipino students with an opportunity to gain in-depth insight into Taiwan’s higher education. In addition to Kun Shan University, co-hosts included Cheng Shiu University and Minghsin University of Science and Technology, along with other partner institutions such as Taiwan Steel University and I-Shou University. These universities presented a wide array of programs and career development opportunities, offering prospective students comprehensive information and support for studying in Taiwan.
Kun Shan University President Dr. Tien-Shang Lee noted that this program has received enthusiastic support from Philippine education authorities, leading to the inaugural education fair in April, which attracted nearly 3,000 Filipino students and educators. This fall, the program welcomed its first cohort of Filipino students to Taiwan. This fair, which first took place at EARIST University in Manila, will also be held at Iloilo Science & Technology University in Iloilo and Bataan Peninsula State University in Bataan, aiming to reach even more Filipino students, foster international talent exchange, and enhance Taiwan's influence in global education. This initiative is laying a strong foundation for Taiwan-Philippines educational collaboration.
Professor Chin-Chung Shen, co-director of the program, noted that this education fair aims to promote Taiwan’s INTENSE Program by fostering collaboration between the Philippine academic sector and Taiwanese enterprises to cultivate skilled professionals. Since Taiwan's government launched the program last year, the first students have already enrolled this academic year. By integrating academic resources with industry support, the fair is expected to attract more Filipino students to Taiwan.
In a video message, Deputy Minister of Education Ping-Cheng Yeh expressed that the program represents a scholarship initiative supported by both the Taiwanese government and industry, designed to attract international students interested in STEM, finance, and semiconductor fields. Courses are co-developed by universities and corporations to ensure skills align with industry demands, providing students with degrees and employment opportunities upon graduation.
To support the government's strategy to establish International Talent Circulation Bases, the Ministry of Education has appointed Kun Shan University as the lead institution for the Philippines base, with Cheng Shiu University and Minghsin University of Science and Technology as co-hosts. These bases will offer free pre-arrival Mandarin courses for prospective students, available both in-person and online, along with comprehensive information for those interested in studying in Taiwan.
