Taiwan government is actively developing the s-shaped strip of semiconductors in Kaohsiung, extending from the Tainan Science Park to the Ciaotou Science Park, Kaohsiung Nanzih Technology Industrial Park, Renwu Industrial Park, and others. This initiative attracts numerous well-known technology firms to establish their presence and generates many job opportunities in the surrounding areas. Nestled in the heart of the s-shaped strip of semiconductors, ISU has gone into longstanding partnerships with industry giants like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC). Together, they have established a robust talent cultivation ecosystem. Each year, ISU hosts job fairs featuring these industry leaders, positioning itself as a premier destination for talent acquisition. With its roots deeply embedded in the College of Engineering, ISU is a coveted choice for companies seeking to tap into the burgeoning high-tech industry landscape.
ISU offers nine colleges covering a wide range of academic disciplines, including medicine, science and technology, engineering, business administration, humanities, and social sciences. With its comprehensive academic advantages, ISU promotes interdisciplinary learning, which has become integrated into students’ daily lives. According to Ming-Shou Wu, the Section Chief of the Career Development Center, the educational goal of ISU extends beyond cultivating students’ professional, language, reading, and problem-solving abilities. It also emphasizes the development of students’ interdisciplinary learning skills, encouraging them to transcend the boundaries of their majors. This approach aims to provide students with a diverse and broad perspective and mindset to achieve their goals in their future careers, thereby enhancing their competitiveness in the ever-changing job market.
Wu further elaborated that ISU provides a comprehensive career development plan for students from freshman to senior year. In the freshman year, students are assisted in preliminary career exploration. In the sophomore and junior years, there is an emphasis on interdisciplinary learning, with each department arranging company visits and inviting industry professionals to give lectures. This promotes the integration of academic expertise with industry experience, reducing the gap between theory and practice. Additionally, various industry internships and recruitment fairs are held irregularly to help students prepare for their careers in advance.
Wu noted that with the development of IoT and AI applications, it is foreseeable that the semiconductor industry will experience a significant surge in both the quality and quantity of talent demand in the future. In response to this trend, ISU not only possesses abundant resources in science, engineering, and information technology but has also established a Semiconductor Degree Program and has begun enrolling students to cultivate their professional capabilities in the semiconductor industry. This initiative aims to prepare students to meet the industry’s substantial demand. Furthermore, ISU continues to collaborate with enterprises, closely understanding industry needs through exchanges with them, adjusting teaching content accordingly, and providing students with more internship and job opportunities.
With the formation of the s-shaped strip of semiconductors, more companies are taking root, and the supply chain is becoming tighter. Located ideally, ISU is only a 20-minute drive from the TSMC Nanzi Fab and the Ciaotou Science Park. Additionally, the aerospace industry-focused Renwu Industrial Park is just 15 minutes away. This geographical advantage provides students with excellent job opportunities after graduation. ISU continues to actively promote teaching excellence and industry-academic cooperation, closely aligning with national policy development and accurately responding to current trends in talent development both in Taiwan and internationally.
