Four universities have applied to the Ministry of Education to establish academies to train talent in key industries, such as a circular economy, smart manufacturing and artificial intelligence (AI).
The Act for National Key Fields Industry-University Cooperation and Skilled Personnel Training (國家重點領域產學合作及人才培育創新條例), promulgated in May last year, allows universities to seek industrial partners to establish academies in key fields determined by an interagency committee.
In the second wave of applications following the act’s promulgation, National Chengchi University (NCCU) plans to establish an international finance academy, while National Chung Hsing University (NCHU) plans to open an academy on sustainable agriculture and green technology research, ministry documents showed.
Photo: CNA
National Chung Cheng University (CCU) tendered two applications: for an academy on international finance management and another on national key fields, with the latter aiming to foster talent on semiconductor packaging and testing, and on precision component manufacturing, the documents showed.
National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST) has applied to establish an academy on industry-university innovation, seeking to cultivate vocational talent on AI and smart manufacturing, the documents showed.
The ministry would announce the results within two months of receiving the universities’ applications, it said.
The future of universities lies in partnering with industry to foster talent, NCCU president Kuo Ming-cheng (郭明政) said on Saturday.
NCCU would integrate resources from its law, finance and information departments to train legal compliance professionals who could work in financial companies in developed economies or countries targeted by the governments’ New Southbound Policy, he said.
The planned academy would adopt bilingual education in Chinese and English, and provide training for a third language, such as Thai, he said, expressing the hope that the children of overseas Taiwanese would come to Taiwan for study.
Some public and private banks, as well as some financial holding companies, have signed letters of intent with NCCU, Kuo said.
NCHU president Shieu Fuh-sheng (薛富盛) said the university’s planned academy on sustainable agriculture and green technology research aims to train talent for a circular economy.
It would focus on the nation’s goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and the UN’s sustainable development goals, while developing advanced agricultural biotechnology, he said.
NCHU has signed a contract with CH Biotech R&D Co, which would donate NT$25 million (US$902,853) every year over a decade to help with talent training, Shieu added.
The planned academy would recruit 20 master’s program students and 10 doctoral students every year, who would be granted monthly scholarships of NT$20,000 and NT$30,000 per person respectively, he said.
NCHU is also in talks with semiconductor and energy firms regarding training green technology talent, Shieu said.
Based on its connections with industrial partners, NTUST last month tendered its application to create an innovation academy, university secretary-general Lu Cheng-hsiu (呂政修) said.
The planned academy would focus on smart manufacturing, AI, green energy and a circular economy, and recruit 90 master’s students and 15 doctoral students every year, he said.
Its industrial partners have promised to provide NT$100 million every year for 12 years, Lu said.
National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU) on Nov. 8 last year tendered applications to establish an academy on advanced semiconductor packaging and testing and another on precision electronics, university vice president Huang I-yu (黃義佑) said.
Unlike the four semiconductor research academies at National Taiwan University, National Cheng Kung University, National Tsing Hua University and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, NSYSU aims to foster talent for industrial chains, he said.
Seven companies have agreed to provide NT$100 million to NT$200 million every year, while the academies would recruit 120 master’s students every year, Huang said.
Three batches of banana sauce imported from the Philippines were intercepted at the border after they were found to contain the banned industrial dye Orange G, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said yesterday. From today through Sept. 2 next year, all seasoning sauces from the Philippines are to be subject to the FDA’s strictest border inspection, meaning 100 percent testing for illegal dyes before entry is allowed, it said in a statement. Orange G is an industrial coloring agent that is not permitted for food use in Taiwan or internationally, said Cheng Wei-chih (鄭維智), head of the FDA’s Northern Center for
The Chinese military has built landing bridge ships designed to expand its amphibious options for a potential assault on Taiwan, but their combat effectiveness is limited due to their high vulnerability, a defense expert said in an analysis published on Monday. Shen Ming-shih (沈明室), a research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said that the deployment of such vessels as part of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s East Sea Fleet signals a strong focus on Taiwan. However, the ships are highly vulnerable to precision strikes, which means they could be destroyed before they achieve their intended
LOOKING NORTH: The base would enhance the military’s awareness of activities in the Bashi Channel, which China Coast Guard ships have been frequenting, an expert said The Philippine Navy on Thursday last week inaugurated a forward operating base in the country’s northern most province of Batanes, which at 185km from Taiwan would be strategically important in a military conflict in the Taiwan Strait. The Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted Northern Luzon Command Commander Lieutenant General Fernyl Buca as saying that the base in Mahatao would bolster the country’s northern defenses and response capabilities. The base is also a response to the “irregular presence this month of armed” of China Coast Guard vessels frequenting the Bashi Channel in the Luzon Strait just south of Taiwan, the paper reported, citing a
UNDER PRESSURE: The report cited numerous events that have happened this year to show increased coercion from China, such as military drills and legal threats The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) aims to reinforce its “one China” principle and the idea that Taiwan belongs to the People’s Republic of China by hosting celebratory events this year for the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the “retrocession” of Taiwan and the establishment of the UN, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said in its latest report to the Legislative Yuan. Taking advantage of the significant anniversaries, Chinese officials are attempting to assert China’s sovereignty over Taiwan through interviews with international news media and cross-strait exchange events, the report said. Beijing intends to reinforce its “one China” principle