NCKU and ASE Deepen Partnership to Cultivate International Students into Semiconductor Talent

Written by Lin Yun-Mao. Image credit to NCKU Office of Internation Affairs.
 
To cultivate the international talent needed for the next generation, NCKU and Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. (ASE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Malaysia on September 13th, expressing their willingness to collaborate in nurturing international students into semiconductor talent. The agreement aimed to build on the existing industry-academia collaboration to provide internship opportunities and career support specifically for NCKU's international students. Through a solid foundation in academic and practical training, the collaboration aimed to foster globally-minded future talents with the ability to thrive in a competitive and evolving global landscape, ultimately propelling the development of the semiconductor industry. This signing ceremony, held in Penang, Malaysia, was attended by NCKU President Meng-Ru Shen, ASE Vice President Jennifer Yuen and Vice President Boon Teong Choo. It marked a significant milestone for both NCKU and ASE, extending their talent cultivation collaboration beyond the borders of Taiwan.

President Shen stated that NCKU and ASE partnered closely in promoting scientific research and talent development. Over the years, the industrial-academic cooperation projects spanned various fields, including semiconductor packaging, smart manufacturing, and environmental engineering. Another example was the “ASE Distinguished Scholar Award” which honored exceptional scholars conducting research in semiconductor packaging and related fields. Both parties shared a mutual goal of cultivating international talent, particularly Malaysian students, who represented the largest group of foreign enrollees at NCKU and were the talents Taiwan aimed to attract. During his speech, President Shen emphasized that the purpose of education was to equip students with the skills and opportunities they would need in the future. Malaysian students performed exceptionally well, and it was strongly hoped that they would contribute to Taiwan's industries. He acknowledged that ASE was renowned worldwide for its expertise in process integration and wastewater treatment, and had been a long-term partner of NCKU in industry-academia collaboration. Establishing a more mature cooperative framework with ASE overseas brought honor for the university.
 
Vice President Yuen remarked that ASE celebrated its 40th anniversary this year, and the company continued to play a pivotal role in the global semiconductor industry. She also acknowledged that NCKU had a strong faculty and abundant resources, having earned international recognition for its academic excellence—not only achieving outstanding global rankings but also having signed agreements with many universities and research institutions worldwide. At the end of her speech, she expressed gratitude for the long-standing partnership with NCKU and emphasized ASE's commitment to working together to drive technological advancements and nurture international talent.
 
Vice President Choo highlighted the semiconductor industry's need for exceptional and innovative talent. He also praised NCKU's internationally recognized resources, noted that many outstanding alumni had excelled in various fields, and stated that many graduates had already demonstrated exceptional performance at ASE. Finally, he expressed hope that this collaboration would cultivate even more talent to contribute to the semiconductor industry.

NCKU and ASE have maintained a close collaborative relationship for many years, leveraging their combined strengths in research, industry expertise, and resources to advance semiconductor development. ASE has endowed the "ASE Distinguished Scholar Award" at NCKU to recognize and support distinguished scholars conducting research in semiconductor packaging and related fields. The two institutions also signed an MOU in 2012, launching industry-academia collaborations in various semiconductor fields, including packaging technologies, smart manufacturing, materials science, and silicon photonics. As for cultivating next-generation talent, they have collaborated on lectures, visits, internships, and recruitment events. These programs help NCKU's international students define their career goals and ensure a smooth transition into the workforce upon graduation. Several of NCKU's international graduates were successfully recruited by ASE, and their outstanding work performance has earned high praise from the company. Furthermore, the ASE-NCKU Collaborative R&D Center is established in 2024. The center focuses on both talent development and cutting-edge semiconductor research, aiming to elevate research, industry practices, and talent cultivation, and actively contributing to social progress and technological innovation.
 
Provider: NCKU News Center
Date: 2024-10-04