NCKU Partners with ASE to Launch New Specialized Program, to Cultivate Key Talent for the Semiconductor Industry-國立成功大學永續發展SDGs

National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) held the “NCKU–ASE New Program Launch Ceremony” on the morning of January 6, 2026, officially announcing that, building on the existing joint R&D center and international talent cultivation collaborations, the two parties would further co-develop key talent needed in Taiwan’s semiconductor industry through the new program.

NCKU President Meng-Ru Shen (沈孟儒) noted that in recent years, NCKU has advanced the “Education, Research, Industry-Academia, and Internationalization” initiative, strengthening its development in higher education while fostering close integration between academic research and industry practice. He expressed gratitude for the long-term support and collaboration from ASE Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd., and emphasized that NCKU will continue to deepen connections with industry partners, providing students with real-world industrial learning experiences and cultivating professionals with global perspectives and practical expertise.

ASE Deputy General Manager of Administrative Resources, Shu-Hsia Lee (李叔霞), highlighted that the semiconductor industry relies on highly specialized labor, and talented engineers are key to maintaining Taiwan’s global competitiveness. Facing challenges such as a declining birth rate and rapid industry expansion, ASE Kaohsiung Plant has already hired over 1,200 foreign engineers from 17 countries and plans to continue expanding recruitment while promoting smart automation to enhance production efficiency and industrial resilience.

Deputy GM Lee further stated that Taiwan’s friendly, safe, and diverse living and working environment helps attract international professionals. ASE is committed to providing comprehensive career development and life support. Through the new program in collaboration with NCKU, ASE aims to cultivate advanced R&D talent, deepen industry-academia and international connections, and support foreign students in establishing stable careers in Taiwan, injecting fresh momentum into Taiwan’s semiconductor industry and achieving mutual benefits for the university, industry, and students.

During the signing ceremony, President Shen and Deputy GM Lee jointly displayed the contract symbolizing the collaboration, officially marking the launch of the new program and ushering in a new stage of industry-academia cooperation. Reflecting on the history of their collaboration, since signing a memorandum of understanding and establishing the “ASE Lecture Series” in 2012, NCKU and ASE have continuously cooperated in semiconductor packaging, smart manufacturing, and sustainable environmental initiatives.

In 2021, ASE joined NCKU’s College of Intelligent Semiconductor and Sustainable Manufacturing to further strengthen industry-academia connections. In January 2024, the two parties formally established a joint R&D center, followed by an international talent cultivation memorandum in September 2024. During this period, multiple collaborative projects were completed. In 2025, they launched the new program covering chemical, mechanical, electrical, materials, and engineering fields, creating a comprehensive pipeline from research and talent cultivation to practical application, injecting new vitality into Taiwan’s semiconductor talent pool.

Representatives from ASE attending the event included Deputy GM Shu-Hsia Lee, HR Manager Chen-An Jian (簡振安), HR Deputy Manager Hung-Ting Chen (陳虹婷), and HR Deputy Manager Che-Yang Huang (黃澤洋). NCKU representatives included President Meng-Ru Shen, Vice President for International Affairs Sun-Yuan Hsieh (謝孫源), Associate Vice Presidents Shu-Jung Hu (胡書榕) and Wei-Hsun Chang (張巍勳), CEO Hsing-Fen Su (蘇杏芬), Deputy Director of the Industry-Academia Innovation Center Yen-Chen Liu (劉彥辰), and department chairs and faculty members from the Departments of Engineering Science, Materials Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Chemical Engineering.