The “2026 INTENSE Program Visit” took place from July 27 to 31, bringing together 40 faculty members from 15 top-tier Thai universities, nearly doubling the attendance of the previous year. Through inter-university exchanges, corporate visits, and industry-academia dialogues, the visiting delegation gained an in-depth understanding of the INTENSE Program and the current landscape of industrial development, further strengthening the ties between Taiwan and Thailand in international talent cultivation and industry-academia collaboration.
The delegation was invited by the National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST)—the lead university of the Taiwan-Thailand International Talent Circulation Base (hereafter, Circulation Base)—and was jointly planned and organized by NPUST, National Sun Yat-sen University, and Chaoyang University of Technology.
The visiting faculty members hailed from Srinakharinwirot University (SWU), Burapha University (BUU), Chiang Mai University (CMU), Chulalongkorn University (CU), Kasetsart University (KU), Khon Kaen University (KKU), King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL), King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB), King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), Maejo University (MJU), Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna (RMUTL), Silpakorn University (SU), Thaksin University (TSU), Thammasat University (TU), and Ubon Ratchathani University (UBU).
Diverging from past exchange models primarily focused on policy advocacy, this year’s event centered on the theme of “Starting from Academic Fields and Deepening Practical Dialogue,” tailoring the exchange content according to the professional backgrounds of the visiting faculty and covering such fields as physics, chemistry, electronic engineering, and semiconductors. Through a dual-track arrangement combining academic and industry focuses, the program promoted the establishment of more concrete and sustainable cooperative relationships between Taiwan and Thailand.
To showcase the type of industry-academia partnerships inherent to the INTENSE Program, the delegation’s itinerary spanned Taiwan from north to south, with visits to universities that administer the INTENSE Program, including National Chung Cheng University, National Tsing Hua University, National Central University, and Yuan Ze University. In this way the visitors were able to gain firsthand insight into each school’s characteristics, curriculum, international student support measures, and campus environments. Additionally, the delegation visited representative enterprises such as GMORS, Zhen Ding Technology, and Unimicron. By stepping into corporate headquarters and production sites, the delegation could develop an in-depth understanding of Taiwan’s current development status and talent demands in industries such as materials, electronic manufacturing, and semiconductor supply chains.
To further promote cooperation between higher education institutions in Taiwan and Thailand, the Circulation Base hosted the “INTENSE Program Exchange Meeting” in Taichung on July 29, bringing together representatives from numerous Taiwanese colleges and universities for face-to-face discussions with the Thai faculty. In the meeting, the characteristics and achievements of various schools with respect to the INTENSE Program were shared and in-depth discussions took place on talent cultivation approaches, curriculum planning, student counseling, and future cooperation models. On the final day of the trip, the delegation visited Taipei 101 and the National Palace Museum for cultural tours before the farewell exchange dinner in the evening. In his address, NPUST President Chin-Lung Chang expressed his gratitude to the faculty members from various universities for traveling afar to participate in the exchanges. He also said he expects that the visit will serve as a new starting point for Taiwan-Thailand inter-university cooperation, with hopes that the Thai faculty will continue to act as a bridge to help introduce more outstanding youths to Taiwan— making good use of the many resources available here. Professor Jywe Wen-yuh, Director of the International Industry-Academia Education Cooperation Alliance Project, stated that future efforts will continue to combine the resources of various universities to promote the INTENSE Program, deepen Taiwan-Thailand talent exchanges and industry-academia collaboration, and jointly construct a mutually beneficial international talent cultivation ecosystem, creating more opportunities for Taiwan-Thailand industrial cooperation.
