To address the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)’s concerns regarding regional talent shortage in emerging industries and the need for enhanced education cooperation, the Ministry of Education organized the 2024 APEC Industry-Academia Collaboration Workshop on August 28 – 29, 2024. The workshop brought together 29 officials and educators from 12 APEC member economies, along with 61 representatives from domestic universities and colleges, to enable them to witness for themselves Taiwan’s models and strengths in digital transformation, industry-academia collaboration, and innovative talent development. This event aimed to deepen Taiwan's contributions to regional digital sustainability and innovative talent cultivation.
In his opening remarks via video, Political Deputy Minister Ping-Cheng Yeh emphasized that in the face of the complex challenges of the digital age, it is crucial for APEC member economies to collaborate, promote cross-regional talent development, and jointly create a more inclusive, sustainable, and innovative future. This workshop, grounded in the spirit of innovation and inclusivity, focused on emerging industries within the context of digital transformation, exploring talent development models to address the evolving needs of these sectors.
The workshop featured discussions on topics such as Fostering Dialogue and Collaboration Between Policy Makers, Industry and Academia for Effective Education and Training Systems, and Educational Transformation Through AI Empowerment. Participants also shared exemplary cases of industry-academia collaboration from both domestic and international perspectives. Highlights included the AI FinTech at National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, and the STEM ConnectHER program by the Asia Foundation Malaysia, which promotes female participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The APEC economy representatives and workshop participants engaged in in-depth discussions, particularly centered on the theme of The Challenge of Cultivating Digital Transformation and Innovation Talents, covering areas such as semiconductors, cybersecurity, sustainable energy, and innovation-driven talent development.
On the second day, the participants visited the Sustainable Development Office and the Smart Agriculture Center at National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST), as well as TCI Biotech, a sustainable enterprise collaborating with NPUST. These visits provided them with a hands-on experience of the industry-academia collaboration in research and development using smart digital technologies.
The Ministry of Education stated that this workshop provided a platform for government agencies, industry representatives, and academic institutions from APEC member economies to exchange ideas and share experiences. It also sought opportunities for future collaboration in talent development and industry-academia partnerships. Through close interactions during the event, the workshop aimed to establish a stronger cross-regional network among economies, cultivate talent to meet the needs of emerging industries, and build an inclusive and innovative sustainable future.