 Indian students studying at WuFeng University in southern Taiwan’s Chiayi County intern at a factory operated by Far East Machinery Co. (Photo by Chin Hung-hao) |
Vocational education institutions in Taiwan are embracing internationalization in an effort to bolster student numbers and create world-class learning platforms.
Indian student Abhijeet Utekar graduated Jan. 20 from WuFeng University in southern Taiwan’s Chiayi County with a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. The 25-year-old now works as an engineer at a machine tool factory in the vicinity of the tertiary institution operated by locally headquartered Far East Machinery Co. (FEMCO).
“I discovered the Learn and Earn Program introduced by FEMCO in collaboration with the university and decided to enroll,” Utekar said. “It truly was an excellent opportunity for me to develop professional skills and a better understanding of the [machine tool] industry.”
Compatriot Vivek Kshirsagar also sings the praises of the academia-industry project. “It’s a big chance for me to study abroad and learn Mandarin while pursuing a career in mechanical engineering at FEMCO,” Kshirsagar said, adding that the experience has set him on the right course for achieving his professional and personal goals.
Pioneering Initiative
Utekar and Kshirsagar are among the first batch of young Indians taking part in the program at the university. As of January, 33 of the total 87 students enrolled from the subcontinent have graduated from the 2013-launched program.
The education initiative is the brainchild of FEMCO President David Chuang (莊宇龍). “With its huge population, India is probably the only market comparable to mainland China in terms of potential,” he said. “We need to cultivate an Indian talent pool and grow our footprint in that country beyond the existing sales and customer service office.”
According to Chuang, the university was quick to act on his suggestion of creating a program aimed at Indian high school graduates seeking advanced education and a career in the machinery industry in Taiwan. The sweetener was FEMCO’s willingness to offer select talents a three-year employment contract following completion of the company-paid undergraduate degree and satisfactory performance evaluations during their three-year internships on the factory floor.
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Win-Win Outcome
Sridharan Madhusudhanan, director-general of India-Taipei Association, visited the university and FEMCO in November last year. Impressed with the students’ technical knowledge, Chinese language proficiency and understanding of the overall operations of the company, he described the program as a “win-win situation” for all sides.
“These students will become an asset for Taiwan industries in three ways,” Madhusudhanan said. “First, they can deepen the human resources of local firms; second, they can employ their experiences and communication skills to clear the path for Taiwan investors in India; and third, they can enhance the development of Taiwan companies around the world.
“The university stands to gain tremendously as it can attract high-caliber international students and forge a cosmopolitan academic atmosphere characterized by exchanges of world-class ideas.”
Central Pillar
Tsai Hung-jung (蔡宏榮), head of the university’s College of Safety and Engineering, said international student recruitment is a central pillar in the institution’s strategic development plan. “We see it as crucial in mitigating the impact of a declining birthrate in Taiwan and consequent decrease in the student population.”
According to Tsai, the government’s peoplecentric New Southbound Policy is a strong step in the right direction when it comes to tackling the issue of falling student numbers, as well as labor shortages faced by business enterprises in Taiwan. “In line with the policy, we plan to offer more specialized programs targeting international students, especially those from Southeast Asia,” he said.
A key plank in President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) national development strategy, the New Southbound Policy seeks to deepen Taiwan’s agricultural, business, cultural, educationl, trade and tourism links with the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states, six South Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand.
As talent cultivation is a core component of the policy, the Ministry of Education (MOE) is allocating more funds to attract students from the region and promote educational exchanges.
Growing Interactions
Yang Yu-huei (楊玉惠), director-general of the MOE’s Department of Technological and Vocational Education, said high on the agency’s agenda is emphasizing interactions with Southeast Asian countries while promoting internationalization and transnational mobility in vocational education and training.
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“In the pursuit of internationalization, one major task for educational institutions is to upgrade software and hardware so as to attract foreign students,” she said. “Another is to send Taiwan students out on mobility experiences through studies or internships.”
The New Southbound Policy is also designed to promote internationalization, Yang said, adding that as many ASEAN economies are experiencing rapid growth, their industries and Taiwan investors in the region have experienced a sharp rise in demand for skilled labor. “We’ll work to recruit more students from Southeast Asia and cultivate Taiwan talent with knowledge of local cultures and languages.”
As part of efforts to achieve this goal, Yang said starting in August, her department is offering subsidies to Taiwan universities planning to launch academia-industry projects, short-term vocational training courses or teacher training programs for those from the 18 countries covered by the New Southbound Policy. In principle, the funding will cover up to 70 percent of the cost of each initiative.
“These programs are designed to develop skilled talent and meet the needs of different Southeast Asian nations, as well as Taiwan companies operating in those markets,” Yang said. “They are also expected to attract more students from the region on the strength of their practicality.”
Citing the project jointly implemented by WuFeng University and FEMCO as an outstanding example of academia-industry collaboration, Yang said the initiative has captured the imagination of other tertiary education institutions around the country, with more than 40 indicating interest in pursuing similar programs—a number exceeding expectations.
In addition, the MOE will provide subsidies to Taiwan students, including the children of new immigrants from Southeast Asia, for cultural exchange activities, language learning and internships in those countries. “These experiences will certainly help improve the students’ chances of securing jobs at home or abroad,” she said.
Going International
Wang Fu-ming (王復民), vice dean of the Office of International Affairs at National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST) in Taipei City, said his school has adopted several internationalization measures like dual degree programs, joint research projects, student exchanges, sister university ties and scholarships.
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There are nearly 900 foreign students from more than 70 countries studying at NTUST, he said, adding that the university has forged ties with around 200 foreign tertiary institutions, as well as set up exchange programs with counterparts in France, Germany, Japan, South Korea and mainland China.
One of its many successful undertakings in this regard is the Taiwan Education Center Indonesia established six years ago in Surabaya, Indonesia. Overseen by NTUST until 2015, the MOE-commissioned facility promotes academic exchanges, Mandarin language teaching and the higher education sector in Taiwan. Largely as a result of the center, NTUST boasts about 300 students from Indonesia—the highest tally in Taiwan.
“A few years ago, we started feeling the pinch from Taiwan’s falling birthrate with a drop in enrollment, especially in the doctoral programs,” Wang said. “Aggressive action was the order of the day, so we turned to the international student market to cover the shortfall.
“Along the way, we fostered a supportive learning environment for international students by providing courses in English, as well as advisory services in the areas of culture, immigration and health insurance,” he said, adding that about a third of NTUST’s undergraduate and graduate programs are now facilitated in English.
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Optimistic Outlook
Hendy Winarta, 24, is one of NTUST’s graduate finance studies students from Indonesia. While making no secret that his decision to study in Taiwan was influenced by the availability of a scholarship, he firmly believes the country is a leader in higher education.
“I want to stay in Taiwan to look for a job after graduating from NTUST in July,” Winarta said. “The locals are diligent and have a serious attitude when it comes to work; there is much I can learn from them.”
According to Winarta, he plans to work in Taiwan for at least five years before returning home and starting a consultancy for Taiwan firms operating in his country. “The New Southbound Policy is laying the groundwork for Taiwan to consolidate trade and investment links with Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries,” he said.
“With bright prospects for more jobs and investment between Taiwan and Indonesia ahead, the time is ripe to take my professional knowledge and Chinese language skills to new heights.”
Write to Kelly Her at kher@mofa.gov.tw
