NPUST has been operating the Taiwan Education Center in Thailand on behalf of the Ministry of Education for 12 years now, and it has been helping to facilitate academic exchange and industry-university cooperation between the two countries for decades. This year, on August 28th, NPUST also took the lead at the Taiwan-Thailand Education Forum, with university president Chin-Lung Chang chairing the event.
Universities participating in the forum included National Taiwan University, National Taiwan Normal University, National Sun Yat-sen University, National Chung Cheng University, National Chi Nan University, National Dong Hwa University, National Taipei University of Education, National Taipei University of Technology, National Formosa University, Kaohsiung Medical University, Chung Shan Medical University, China Medical University, Taipei Medical University, Nanhua University, Cheng Shiu University, Lunghwa University of Science and Technology, Taiwan Steel University of Science and Technology, China University of Technology, Yuanpei University of Medical Technology, and Deh Yu College of Nursing and Health.
The event was launched at the Mandarin Hotel Bangkok this year under the theme of “Transforming Higher Education: Enhancing Global Competitiveness through Cooperation and Innovation”. NPUST President Chin-Lung Chang opened the forum and led the participants through a time of active bilateral exchange.
Two days after the forum, the Taiwan Higher Education Fair and Job Counseling event opened in Bangkok, running from 10 am to 6 pm, August 30-31. Twenty-eight of Taiwan’s well-known universities and colleges participated in the exhibition, providing information on international program admissions and scholarships in various fields. The scope of the fair was also expanded this year to allow for the participation of industry representatives for the first time. Seven Taiwanese companies who are looking for Chinese-speaking Thai nationals were invited to conduct talent recruitment activities and provide visitors with information on studying in Taiwan and finding employment with Taiwanese companies. The NPUST operated Taiwan Education Center in Thailand served as organizer for this year’s exhibition. In recent years, NPUST has successively set up Taiwan Education Center offices in four cities, including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima and Phuket, where Chinese language courses are offered and information on programs, scholarships and other university information is provided.
At the fair, Political Deputy Minister of Education, Ping-Cheng Yeh, said that the Artificial Intelligence College Alliance that was established in Taiwan is a gateway for learning and investing in the AI industry. He also mentioned that with assistance coming from the government, schools and enterprises, expectations are that the new international classes promoted by the Ministry of Education will allow for more corporate talent cultivation. President Chin-Lung Chang of NPUST expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Education, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, and the Taiwan Education Center, thanking them “for strongly supporting this higher education exhibition”. In a speech he pointed out that “the event is showcasing more than 28 of Taiwan’s outstanding schools and institutions and providing unique opportunities of academic development”. He added that “Taiwan has become the first choice for Thai students seeking world-class education, and hopes are that the students will seize this opportunity to explore the diverse study options provided by NPUST and other top universities in Taiwan.” Taiwan’s ambassador to Thailand, Chun-Fu Chang, said: “relations between Taiwan and Thailand have a long history and the potential for bilateral cooperation is unlimited. We are looking forward to further academic cooperation and exchanges between the two sides.”
Taiwanese universities participating in this year’s fair included Taiwan University, National Taiwan Normal University, National Sun Yat-sen University, National Chung Cheng University, National Chi Nan University, National Dong Hwa University, National Taipei University of Education, National Taipei University of Technology, National Formosa University, Kaohsiung Medical University, Chung Shan Medical University, China Medical University, Taipei Medical University, Nanhua University, Lunghwa University of Science and Technology, Yuanpei University of Medical Technology, National Taiwan Sport University, National Tsing Hua University, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Tunghai University, Tamkang University, Yuan Ze University, Shih Chien University, Takming University of Science and Technology, Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Ming Chi University of Science and Technology. Each of the institutions provided information about their colleges, courses, application procedures, scholarships and more. The Steering Committee for the Test of Proficiency was also present at the fair to provide comprehensive information regarding required Chinese language proficiency levels and the proficiency examination.
This year, the scope of the fair was broadened and seven Taiwanese businesses were invited to share information on employment opportunities. These include Compeq Manufacturing Co., Ltd.; Thai Nanpao Resins Chemical Co., Ltd.; Taiwan Hon Chuan Group; Tai Sheng Xin Industrial Co., Ltd.; Foxsemicon Integrated Technology Inc.; Kenmec Mechanical Engineering Co.,Ltd.; and Chang Horing Rubber Co. Ltd.
In addition to receiving rich first-hand information about studying abroad and pursuing employment with Taiwanese companies, visitors to the fair had the opportunity to win prizes, including a three-month Chinese language course through a lucky draw. The fair attracted many teachers, students and parents who were looking to see what kind of opportunities Taiwan is offering to the world of academics and higher education.
As Taiwan’s reputation for high-quality higher education continues to spread internationally, its education sector has become one of the main driving forces in the country’s economic growth. In recent years, Taiwan has become the first choice to study abroad for students from many Southeast Asian countries. In 2023, the number of overseas students studying in Taiwan exceeded 110,000 and students from Thailand reached a record high of 6,118. As Taiwan’s sixth largest source of overseas students, Thailand and Taiwan enjoy close cooperation and frequent exchanges in the field of education. In addition to jointly promoting various scholarship programs and sending Thai university lecturers to Taiwan to study master’s and doctoral degrees, together they are promoting the International Industry-Academia Collaboration Program to provide Thai students with more practical training opportunities in Taiwan.
Taiwan’s high-quality learning environment allows students to improve their English and Chinese language skills as they enrich their international cultural experience and cultivate skills to become more competitive in the job market. Taiwan warmly welcomes Thai students to come for studies, and hopes to see more Thai talent with Chinese language skills join its companies in the near future!
