The establishment of TSMC’s JASM in Kumamoto has resulted in a significant increase in population and economic advantages, strengthening the ties between Taiwan and Japan. The mutually beneficial industries in both countries have had a broad-reaching impact. ISU, with its longstanding commitment to international engagement, forged a sister school relationship with Sojo University in 2014, promoting exchanges among students and faculty. Furthermore, ISU prioritizes enhancing students’ international mobility, actively providing avenues for them to engage on the global stage. Through collaborations with prominent Japanese corporations, ISU facilitates student internships in Japan, thereby expanding opportunities for career growth in the country.
Former Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan and current member of the House of Representatives, Koichi Hagiuda, who attended the opening ceremony of TSMC’s JASM in Kumamoto on February 24, led a delegation of Japanese lawmakers to ISU for a Taiwan-Japan exchange lecture during last year’s Double Tenth National Day celebrations. During the event, he engaged in discussions with the younger generation and emphasized his efforts in facilitating TSMC’s factory establishment in Kumamoto, thereby strengthening economic collaboration between Taiwan and Japan in the semiconductor supply chain. Dr. Pei-Jung Yang, Chair of the Department of Applied Japanese under the International College, mentioned that the impact of TSMC’s JASM setting up a factory in Japan has also been felt in Taiwan. With the shortage of bilingual talent, this move has increased internship and employment opportunities for Taiwanese students in Japan.
In November last year, Sojo University, under the leadership of its Education Center, collaborated with ISU to organize a seminar on the current state of higher education in Taiwan and Japan. Professor Yasuhiro Oshima from Sojo University highlighted that the establishment of TSMC’s factory in Kumamoto has spurred an increased demand for semiconductor-related talent in higher education. Since 2022, Sojo University has been actively organizing semiconductor workshops and semiconductor circuit design competitions. This year, they plan to facilitate student exchanges between ISU and Sojo University, involving students and faculty from the Department of Applied Japanese, as well as the College of Engineering and the College of Medicine.
This January, a delegation led by Kenji Fujino, Executive Managing Director of Nisso Kogyo Co., Ltd., a company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, visited ISU. This corporation cultivates and deploys talent in the semiconductor and manufacturing industries. During their visit, they expressed their keen interest in international industry-university collaboration, with the goal of providing internship and employment opportunities for ISU students in Kumamoto. Agreements for international industry-university collaboration were signed, formalizing channels for students to intern and work in Japan. ISU, with its diverse interdisciplinary learning environment and extensive international resources, is dedicated to guiding each student toward a bright future on the global stage.