University-industry partnerships are playing a significant role in higher education development by bridging the skills gap.
Chen Bo-jun, left, enrolled in a master’s program at NPUST’s Department of Vehicle Engineering, gets hands-on experience through an R&D project on smart farm machinery in collaboration with a local enterprise. (Photo by Chen Mei-ling)
When Thabani Manyatsi from the Kingdom of Eswatini first learned of the rich educational opportunities available in Taiwan, he immediately knew he had to apply for programs in the ally country. Manyatsi has now been studying at National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) in southern Taiwan for seven years, successively pursuing bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. Currently he is a first year Ph.D. student in the Department of Tropical Agriculture and International Cooperation.
“I study agriculture because it’s the backbone of my country, and I want to bring what I learn home to improve crop nutrition and yields,” Manyatsi said. “NPUST’s practical vocational training courses provide the knowledge and skills necessary to accomplish my goals.” He is particularly passionate about plant biotechnology, with a focus on plant tissue culture pertaining to beans, corn and sugarcane—key agricultural products in Eswatini.
Manyatsi said he has greatly benefited from visits to Pingtung Agricultural Biotechnology Park throughout his studies, which have enabled him to gain a deeper understanding of advanced facilities and technologies utilized by resident companies. Internship programs offered by the university in cooperation with local enterprises are also instrumental in allowing students like Manyatsi to apply classroom knowledge in practical settings while boosting understanding of workplace culture and professional networks. Partaking in a two-month internship with a local horticulture company, he gained in-depth knowledge about greenhouse operations and the handling of cut flowers for export.
NPUST students tour an assembly line at dietary supplement manufacturer TCI Co. in Pingtung. (Photo courtesy of National Pingtung University of Science and Technology)
Promotion of such industry-academia collaboration is a core component of the Ministry of Education’s Sustained Progress and Rise of Universities in Taiwan (SPROUT) project implemented in 2018. The initiative is already seeing results, with institutions placing greater emphasis on innovative teaching strategies to enhance student engagement, motivation and achievement.
Dynamic Curricula
According to NPUST President Tai Chang-hsien (戴昌賢), SPROUT offers policy guidance and financial support for business leaders to participate in university-level curriculum design, improving the quality and effectiveness of education. “Such cooperation can narrow the gap between industry and academia and boost students’ employability,” he said. “This reduces the time, effort and resources companies need to expend on training recent graduates.” Over the last three years, Tai’s university has adopted interdisciplinary and interindustry approaches to talent development in line with SPROUT objectives. Its efforts have resulted in the establishment of 16 research teams and partnerships with 15 enterprises thus far. “We offer more than 100 courses aimed at equipping students with a wide range of skills and the ability to solve complex problems,” Tai said. “For example, a class might integrate agriculture with biotechnology, business management, e-commerce or machinery.” The university’s six colleges specializing in agriculture, engineering, international cooperation, social sciences, management and veterinary medicine help facilitate the development of multidisciplinary curricula, he added.
Meanwhile, NPUST has formalized collaboration with major industry players like AU Optronics Corp. and Gogoro Inc., respectively headquartered in the northern cities of Hsinchu and Taoyuan. “We regularly invite experts from our partner companies to deliver guest lectures and provide advice on teaching materials, ensuring students gain practical know-how to complement academic theory and graduate with a comprehensive grasp on their specializations,” Tai said.
A student examines a power converter at a lab at National Taiwan University of Science and Technology in Taipei City. (Photo by Chen Mei-Ling)
NPUST’s commitment to providing well-rounded vocational education and training programs serves to build a diverse, future-ready talent pool. “Taiwan is facing a looming worker shortage, particularly in occupations requiring higher technical qualifications,” he said. “Many companies have come directly to our school to hire new personnel, demonstrating their recognition of our student competencies.”
Chen Bo-jun (陳柏均), who is a master’s student at NPUST’s Department of Vehicle Engineering, believes his program choice has greatly enhanced his job prospects. According to Chen, courses offered by the department cover everything from vehicle layout design and production processes to sustainable transport solutions. These are supplemented by collaborative R&D projects with enterprises on the development of autonomous vehicles, electric cars and smart farm machines. Chen’s focus is on the latter, especially the use of artificial intelligence (AI), big data, cloud computing and Internet of Things (IoT) to increase the quality and quantity of crops while reducing the need for manpower.
Innovative Focus
National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST) in Taipei is likewise a leading provider of technical and vocational education in the country. Chiu Huang-jen (邱煌仁), dean of the Office of Research and Development, said the institution is known for its extensive cooperation with businesses and level of internationalization, adding that the school’s prestigious reputation enhances its appeal to prospective students at home and abroad.
“We regularly update our curriculum, teaching materials and methodology to reflect industry trends,” Chiu said. “We also work with organizations across many sectors to help them achieve their business goals and overcome technical challenges.” SPROUT funding plays a critical role in supporting such partnerships, he added.
Currently, NTUST has set up joint research centers with several high-tech companies including Taipeiheadquartered Delta Electronics Inc. as well as New Taipei City-based Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co. and International Games System Co. (IGS). The enterprises have additionally made generous donations to fund campus upgrades, professional development programs and scholarships.
“Collaboration comes with many advantages for both universities and companies, such as knowledge exchange and technology transfer,” the dean said. “For academics, benefits include awareness of new developments, research funding and opportunities to transform research into commercial products, while private enterprises gain access to resources and skilled graduates.” This type of alliance is key to catalyzing innovation and progress, he added. Other research centers operated by NTUST are dedicated to the development of key technologies such as AI, cybersecurity, 5G broadband, IoT, sustainable energy and 3D printing, all of which help address evolving industry needs.
According to Chiu, a high percentage of NTUST graduates end up working in their field of study, pointing to the success of the university’s experiential education approach. Many of its alumni have even started their own thriving businesses. IGS, a game development company listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange, is a prime example. Its chairman and two general managers graduated from NTUST, paving the way for the company anduniversity to establish a joint research center in 2015.
About 10 percent of the engineering workforce at International Games System Co. based in New Taipei City is made up of NTUST alumni. (Photo by Chen Mei-ling)
Wang Ta-wei (王大維), an assistant manager at IGS’s Arcade Game Division, said NTUST is the only tertiary institution his company has established cooperation with. “Demand and competition for technologically savvy workers have remained strong, and NTUST is an excellent source of such talent,” he said. “That’s why we offer internship opportunities and are keen to work together on product development.”
Currently, IGS has approximately 1,000 employees, including 700 R&D engineers, with about 10 percent of its engineering workforce made up of NTUST alumni. The company has initiated more than 50 joint projects with the university and over 30 of them have led to the launch of new products.
Lu Bo-ru (呂柏儒), who graduated from NTUST in 2018 with a major in computer science and information engineering, secured his first job as a software engineer at IGS after he interned there during his master’s degree. “The benefits of university-industry relationships reach well beyond the classroom. During my internship, I discovered the importance of teamwork and how it promotes workplace efficiency and productivity,” Lu said. “It was an incredibly rewarding experience that facilitated my transition from school to a full-time job.”
Interactions with the business sector across Taiwan’s higher education institutions are expected to intensify under the SPROUT initiative. “With strong government support, we’re endeavoring to take our cooperation to the next level,” NTUST’s Chiu said. “By striking up corporate partnerships, we empower students with the competencies they need to excel in their careers, while companies gain a reliable source of top-notch workers. Everyone wins.”
Write to Kelly Her at kher@mofa.gov.tw