Connecting Education with Industry: NCHU Advances Taiwan–Philippines Technology Talent Collaboration in Clark

As investment in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and advanced manufacturing continues to expand, Clark is emerging as an important hub for technology industries and talent development in the Philippines. The Philippine INTENSE Program Overseas Education Fair, organized under Taiwan’s Ministry of Education International Industrial Talents Education Special Program, was held on September 10 at SMX Convention Center Clark. Led by National Chung Hsing University (NCHU), the event brought together Taiwanese universities and Philippine education partners and attracted more than 400 Filipino students, introducing them to Taiwan’s higher education, professional training opportunities, and industry–academia collaboration.

Clark has seen growing development in the semiconductor and electronics sectors, with Clark Freeport establishing a cluster of related industries. This year, the Philippines and the United States also announced plans for an AI-focused industrial hub in New Clark City, covering semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and advanced manufacturing. As the region’s industrial landscape continues to expand, cultivating technology talent has become increasingly important. Holding the education fair in Clark provided an opportunity to connect Taiwan’s experience in higher education and industry–academia talent development with the educational and career aspirations of local students.

Taiwan and Philippine Education Partners Join Forces to Cultivate Global Technology Talent
The education fair brought together eight Taiwanese universities: National Chung Hsing University, National Sun Yat-sen University, National Chung Cheng University, Cheng Shiu University, Kun Shan University, Taiwan Steel University of Science and Technology, Chaoyang University of Technology, and Providence University. Together with Philippine higher education and industry partners, the universities gathered in Clark to engage directly with local students. Through university presentations and on-site consultations, students received information on academic programs, scholarships, studying and living in Taiwan, and future career opportunities, enabling them to gain a better understanding of Taiwan’s higher education system and its diverse fields of study.

The event opened with a Philippine cultural performance and was attended by representatives from the education sectors of both Taiwan and the Philippines, including Minister Dustin Teng-shi Yang of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines; Dr. Christine Nabor Ferrer, Director of the International Affairs Service at the Commission on Higher Education (CHED); Dr. Wen-Yuh Jywe, Principal Investigator of the INTENSE Program; NCHU Vice President of International Affairs Dr. Chi-Chung Chou; Cheng Shiu University Vice President Dr. Shuenn-Ren Cheng; and Kun Shan University Vice President Dr. Hwey-Lin Sheu. Philippine university representatives included Dr. Teody C. San Andres, President of Bulacan State University, and Prof. Mark Anthony Torres, Vice Chancellor of Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), among others. Together, they witnessed the continued exchange between Taiwan and the Philippines in higher education and talent development.

During the opening ceremony, NCHU Vice President Chi-Chung Chou delivered remarks on behalf of President Fu-Chih Chan and welcomed the participants on behalf of NCHU and its partner institutions, Cheng Shiu University and Kun Shan University. He emphasized that Taiwan–Philippines cooperation should extend beyond agreements and formal signings. Continuous engagement, he noted, is essential to understanding the practical needs and challenges Filipino students may face when pursuing their studies in Taiwan. The INTENSE Program is intended not only to provide opportunities to earn a degree, but also to support students as they prepare for employment and long-term career development after graduation. Achieving this goal requires the collective efforts of universities and partners in both Taiwan and the Philippines.

The fair was marked by lively interaction throughout the day. During the Happy Hour session, participating universities introduced their distinctive programs and engaged students through interactive Q&A activities, with enthusiastic participation from the audience. At the conclusion of the event, students were invited to share their experiences, describing the fair as highly informative and bringing a meaningful close to a full day of educational exchange.

From Educational Exchange to Concrete Collaboration: Strengthening the Taiwan–Philippines Talent Development Network
The education fair also advanced concrete cooperation between Taiwan and the Philippines. During the event, National Chung Hsing University, Cheng Shiu University, and Kun Shan University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for cooperation under the Taiwan–Philippines International Talent Circulation Base with Universidad de Zamboanga, the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP), and STI West Negros University. The agreement is intended to further expand collaboration in talent development, educational exchange, and industry–academia cooperation.

On the industry side, the event also featured information on Taiwan’s industries, including materials related to ASE, giving students an opportunity to learn more about Taiwan’s technology sector. United Orthopedic Corporation also participated in the event, sharing insights into the development of the medical device industry and its talent needs. Bringing together engineering, precision manufacturing, medical expertise, and R&D, the medical device industry also showed students that technology-related expertise can lead to a wide range of applications and career paths beyond semiconductors and artificial intelligence.

The INTENSE Program brings together resources from government, universities, and industry to cultivate international talent through professional education and industry–academia collaboration. From face-to-face discussions between Filipino students and Taiwanese universities to institutional partnerships and industry engagement, the Clark event reflected Vice President Chou’s emphasis that talent development goes beyond earning a degree and should also consider students’ employment and career development after graduation.

Through initiatives under the Ministry of Education’s International Industry–Academia Education Cooperation Alliance, NCHU continues to connect Taiwanese universities and industries with higher education partners in the Philippines. As Clark’s technology sector continues to develop rapidly, NCHU will continue strengthening Taiwan–Philippines cooperation in education and talent development, helping more young people build professional capabilities and broaden their international perspectives while contributing a new generation of talent to the future development of industries in both Taiwan and the Philippines.

↑ The 2026 Philippine INTENSE Program Overseas Education Fair was held in Clark, bringing together higher education and industry partners from Taiwan and the Philippines to promote international talent development.

↑ Minister Dustin Teng-shi Yang of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines poses for a photo with Filipino students attending the education fair, amid lively interaction at the event.

↑ Taiwanese and Philippine universities signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) during the education fair, further expanding educational exchange into institutional collaboration and talent development