In recent years, the government of Taiwan has been actively investing in the Southern Taiwan Science Park to help even out the development of the northern and southern districts. To help meet the demand for new large-scale facilities in the southern park, the government also called for renowned domestic companies, including Dacin Construction and Ruentex, to help with construction.
In 2020, these two market listed companies came to the Department of Civil Engineering at NPUST looking for talent to recruit. Through in-depth discussions, the university was brought up-to-speed on projected long-term demand for personnel at the Southern Taiwan Science Park, and in September (2020), the Department of Civil Engineering signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the two companies. The parties agreed to jointly cultivate professionals in the area of practical civil engineering and sustainable development. The parties will also work to promote exchange and cooperation between industry and the academia.
Coordinating with the Department of Civil Engineering, the two companies began offering off-campus internships to students in the program so that they could gain practical experience. The university also agreed to recommend outstanding students from the master’s programs to go work for the companies upon graduation. While still enrolled in studies, students from the program will be selected to take part in internships at companies’ factories in the Southern Taiwan Science Park, so they can pick up skills that they would not be exposed to while learning traditional civil engineering. Those who perform well will have the opportunity stay on after graduation and become formal employees. In the second semester of 2020, six students were selected to take part in internships at Dacin, with another four going to Ruentex. Following great performances and positive reviews from the managers, four of the students were offered positions Dacin and two at Ruentex.
The two companies were quite satisfied with the internship performances and, in the future, will continue to offer more opportunities to students from NPUST. As the current semester comes to a close, plans are already in place to send another three graduating students to Dacin for employment. The academic-industry cooperation is creating an all-round win for the students, the school, and the companies—and hopes are that the relationship will help foster new levels of development in the field.
