TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The education ministry said Friday that Taiwan and the US have launched a semiconductor education alliance to train more workers for the semiconductor and artificial intelligence industries.
The alliance was launched at the 2026 US-Taiwan Semiconductor Higher Education Networking Event. Education Minister Cheng Ying-yao (鄭英耀) and American Institute in Taiwan Washington Office Executive Director Ingrid D. Larson witnessed the signing by the Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan Chair Li Tsai-yen (李蔡彥) and American Association of State Colleges and Universities President Charles Welch.
The ministry said the cooperation will include degree and non-degree programs, overseas training, workshops, and short-term exchanges. Schools may also add internships with companies to help students gain job skills.
So far, 23 Taiwan universities with semiconductor training programs and English-taught courses have joined the alliance. Of these, 20 sent representatives to the US event.
On the US side, 27 member schools of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities attended the event. The ministry said the turnout showed strong interest from both sides in deeper education cooperation.
The American Association of State Colleges and Universities was founded in 1971 and represents public colleges and universities in the US. The ministry said the group plays an important role in US higher education.
The ministry said the new alliance builds on Taiwan-US education cooperation that began in 2020. It added that Taiwan has strong experience in training semiconductor workers, from research to practical skills.
Taiwan and the US also signed an agreement to extend a memorandum on international education cooperation for five years. The ministry said the semiconductor education alliance will help attract more US students and young professionals to study and train in Taiwan.
