In order to deepen collaboration between educational and industry sectors in Taiwan and Thailand, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) was commissioned by the Ministry of Education to lead an initiative to establish the “Taiwan-Thailand International Talent Cultivation Base” in Thailand.
On Friday, August 29 (2025), the Bangkok office of the base was officially inaugurated at the KMUTT Knowledge Exchange Center (KX Center) in Bangkok, Thailand. The ceremony was attended by distinguished guests, including Ambassador Peter Sha-li Lan of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand; Project Host Dr. Wen-Yuh Jywe of the International Industry-University Education Collaboration Alliance; Dr. Chin-Lung Chang, President of NPUST and Project Host of the Taiwan-Thailand International Talent Cultivation Base; Dr. Wen-Chi Wu, Executive Director of the Chiang Mai based (operated by National Chung Hsing University); Chieng-Feng Wang, Project Manager of the Khon Kaen Overseas Base (operated by National Sun Yat-sen University); President Suvit Saetia of King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT); Vice President for International Affairs Pitcha Prasitmeeboon of King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang; and representatives from other universities in Taiwan and Thailand.
During the opening ceremony, President Chang of NPUST stated that the establishment of the Bangkok office is a significant milestone for educational and industrial cooperation and talent exchange between Taiwan and Thailand. It also represents a concrete step in the implementation of Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy in the field of education. President Chang explained that the Bangkok office will serve as a one-stop service center for Thai students, offering consultations on studying in Taiwan, career guidance, Chinese language learning and cultural support, and internship and employment match making.
The “International Talent Cultivation Base” is a program launched by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education in 2024. It is a core component of the International Students and Talent Retention Program. Similar bases have been successfully established in Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines and have experienced excellent results. This year, the program expanded to Thailand, with guidance from the Ministry of Education and the International Industry-Academia-Education Collaboration Alliance. NPUST was entrusted with the overall planning and execution of the expansion to Thailand, collaborating together with National Chung Hsing University and National Sun Yat-sen University. The goal for the base is to provide comprehensive support services, create a positive talent circulation system between Taiwan and Thailand, and drive the economic development of both nations.
Bilateral educational cooperation not only helps Taiwan attract international professional talent for key industries such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), finance, and semiconductors, but also provides Thai youth with opportunities for high-quality education and global employment, thereby improving the quality of their country’s workforce. By leveraging educational resources from both countries, the base will act as a vital bridge for diplomatic, educational, and regional cooperation, fostering exchange and deepening mutual trust. It will also cultivate alumni with global perspectives who can become unofficial ambassadors for long-term cooperation between the two countries, contributing to regional prosperity and stability.
