MORE than 2,000 students and officials from various schools in Luzon trooped to the SMX Convention Center Manila in Pasay City recently to check on available scholarships offered by 15 Taiwanese universities.

Spearheaded by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO), the Taiwan Ministry of Education (MOE), and the International Talent Circulation (Intact) Base Taiwan-Philippines, the academic program for Filipino students and professionals called International Industrial Talents Education Special (Intense) encourages more excellent international talents to pursue degrees in Taiwan and build strong connections with Taiwan's industries.

Officials, faculty members and students coming from various universities in Luzon, along with representatives of International Talent Circulation Base, Taiwan universities and Commission on Higher Education, converge after the signing of memorandum of understanding for the implementation of International Industrial Talents Education Special program, which opens scholarships for Filipinos in Taiwan at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on April 30, 2024. PHOTO BY ARLO CUSTODIO Officials, faculty members and students coming from various universities in Luzon, along with representatives of International Talent Circulation Base, Taiwan universities and Commission on Higher Education, converge after the signing of memorandum of understanding for the implementation of International Industrial Talents Education Special program, which opens scholarships for Filipinos in Taiwan at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on April 30, 2024. PHOTO BY ARLO CUSTODIO

"Intact Base was initiated in August 2023 with the primary objective of synergizing prestigious institutions in Taiwan and globally. It aims to promote international collaboration, facilitating the circulation and exchange of talents on a global scale. It is a crucial part of the Intense program. This initiative, jointly planned and implemented by MOE and the National Development Council, commences in 2024," TECO informed in its main flyer distributed during the event.

"This program integrates resources from the government, industry and universities, aiming to expand recruitment of international students," it added.

TECO Education Division director Tony Lee said that the Intense program is designed for international talents coming to Taiwan for study and employment after graduation.

"The Philippines is the first country we are launching the Intense program, and we are happy with the turnout [of participants]. Hopefully many students will avail of the scholarships open to them," he told The Manila Times.

The program prioritizes science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), finance and semiconductor-related fields.

Students who have finished two years of their undergraduate studies may continue the remainder two or three years of their studies at a Taiwan university; they may also continue two years of post-bachelor's degree or a two-year Master's degree.

Benefits include a free Mandarin Chinese preparatory course for up to one year, a free one-way airline ticket and necessary administrative fee, a full scholarship on the first year of study (the top 70 percent are eligible for a full scholarship on the second year of study), living allowance of $300 per month provided by companies, paid internship, degree awarded after two years of research and opportunity to work/job placement in Taiwan after graduation.

Delivering their messages were TECO Ambassador Wallace Chow, Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei Board of Director Charo Munsayac, Dr. Ethel Agnes Pascua-Valenzuela of the Commission on Higher Education, and a representative of Taiwan MOE via video and Intact Base Office-Philippines representative/Kun Shan University President Tien-Shang Lee.

Taiwanese universities and schools that joined the exhibition in Manila on April 30 and in Cebu on May 2 at the Montebello Villa Hotel were Kun Shan University (Tainan), National Taipei University of Business (Taipei), National Formosa University (Yunlin), Chinese Culture University (Taipei), Taiwan Steel University of Science and Technology (Kaohsiung), National Chung Cheng University (Chiayi), National Chung Hsing University (Taichung), Tamkang University (New Taipei), I-Shou University (Kaohsiung), Providence University (Taichung), Cheng Shiu University (Kaohsiung), Minghsin University of Science and Technology (Hsinchu), Feng Chia University (Taichung), Fu Jen Catholic University (New Taipei) and Fooyin University (Kaohsiung).

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