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Education program for tech sector to increase resources

The government plans to set up a high-tech cram school next year in the hope of alleviating a manpower shortage in the sector.

The school, to be run by government-funded Industrial Technology Research Institute (工業技術研究院), will expand its role from a research body to a high-tech talent school by offering related training programs for college graduates.

"By offering the training programs, we are aiming to increase the number of the high-tech employees and upgrade the quality of current high-tech employees," an aide to institute spokesman Lin Yu-huan said yesterday.

The aide, surnamed Hsu asked not to be identified.

She said that the programs, funded by the Hsinchu-based Industrial Technology Research Institute and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, hope to churn out 50,000 prodigies annually.

"Despite unemployment as high as 5.3 percent, Taiwan is facing a severe manpower gap between high-tech professionals and general workers," she said.

According to government statistics, by 2005, the government and local industries will require around 17,000 high-tech professionals as part of the government's national development plan. Currently only 800 technology students graduate from Taiwanese post-graduate schools annually.

To make up the shortage, the institute will provide a variety of short-term and long-term programs -- ranging from several weeks to six months -- starting next year. Courses will focus on basic professional skills in high-tech related fields, such as nanotechnology and wireless broadband.

Students who complete the courses will receive a certificate, she said.

However, Eric Chen (陳台生), special assistant to president of chipmaker ALi Corp (揚智科技), said that manpower cultivated from the programs may not meet the expectations of local industries if the courses are not correctly designed.

Chen noted that around 70 percent of ALi's workers are masters-degree holders or experienced engineers.

He said that a program covering practical knowledge, including IC design, semiconductor programs and IC languages would benefit the industry.
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