National Pingtung University of Science and Technology is among many Taiwan tertiary institutions promoting industry-academia collaboration, a core component of the Ministry of Education’s Sustained Progress and Rise of Universities in Taiwan project.
Tai Chang-hsien, president of NPUST based in southern Taiwan’s Pingtung County, said since its inception in 2018, SPROUT has offered policy guidance and financial support for business leaders to participate in university-level curriculum design aimed at improving the quality and effectiveness of education.
Such cooperation can narrow the gap between industry and academia while boosting students’ employability, Tai said. This reduces the time, effort and resources companies need to expend on training recent graduates, he added.
Over the last three years, the university has adopted interdisciplinary and interindustry approaches to talent development. It also places greater emphasis on innovative teaching strategies to enhance student engagement, motivation and achievement in tandem with SPROUT objectives.
Agricultural students at NPUST learn how to grow chili peppers in a greenhouse.
NPUST efforts to date have resulted in the establishment of 16 research teams and partnerships with 15 enterprises. More than 100 courses providing students with a wide range of skills and the ability to solve complex problems are offered at six colleges specializing in agriculture, engineering, international cooperation, social sciences, management and veterinary medicine.
In addition, the university has formalized collaboration with major industry players like AU Optronics Corp. and Gogoro Inc., headquartered in the northern cities of Hsinchu and Taoyuan, respectively.
According to Tai, NPUST regularly invites experts from partner companies to deliver guest lectures and share advice on teaching materials. This ensures students gain practical know-how to complement academic theory and graduate with a comprehensive grasp of their specializations, he said.
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.
Chen Bo-jun, a master’s student at NPUST’s Department of Vehicle Engineering, said courses 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, he added.
The university’s commitment to providing well-rounded vocational education and training programs serves to build a diverse, future-ready talent pool. For Tai, this is particularly important as Taiwan is facing a looming worker shortage in occupations requiring higher technical qualifications.
Many companies come directly to NPUST to hire new personnel, Tai said, adding that this represents a resounding vote of confidence in the quality of the institution and competencies of the students. (E-KH) (By Kelly Her)
NPUST students tour an assembly line at dietary supplement manufacturer TCI Co. Ltd. in Pingtung. (Courtesy of NPUST)
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(This article is adapted from Teaming UP in the July/August Issue 2021 of Taiwan Review. The Taiwan Review archives dating to 1951 are available online.)