YunTech Partners with Fukuoka Institute of Technology Affiliated Josu High School to Host Semiconductor Talent Development Summer Camp

Japanese Students Explore Taiwan’s Technology and Culture Through Industry Visits and Hands-On Learning

National Yunlin University of Science and Technology (YunTech) held the “2026 Fukuoka Institute of Technology Affiliated Josu High School Semiconductor Talent Development Summer Camp” from August 16 to 21. A total of 10 undergraduate students from Fukuoka Institute of Technology, 35 high school students from its affiliated Josu High School, and five faculty members and teachers, including Vice President Tomoharu Matsuo, came to Taiwan to participate in the program. Combining semiconductor industry visits, university-level professional courses, and cultural experiences in Taiwan, the six-day program gave 45 Japanese students opportunities to learn about Taiwan from industrial, educational, and cultural perspectives, broaden their international horizons, and consider future pathways for further study and career development.

As part of the program, students visited the Taiwan Semiconductor Research Center (TSRI), the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), and the TSMC Innovation Museum. Through guided tours and professional presentations, they learned about the technologies, equipment, and specialized talent behind semiconductor chips. At the TSMC Innovation Museum, exhibits on industry development, chip manufacturing, and technological innovation helped students understand the semiconductor value chain and Taiwan’s role in the global semiconductor industry, connecting what can often be abstract semiconductor concepts with real-world industrial development.

In addition to visiting industry and research facilities, the students also explored YunTech’s campus and participated in hands-on courses that highlighted the connection between university education and the technology industry. In a course offered by the Department of Mechanical Engineering, students used Arduino along with programming and operating techniques introduced by the instructor to create table-tennis games. From hardware operation and programming to game design, they experienced the process of transforming concepts into functional projects.

The Department of Industrial Engineering and Management arranged a team-based paper bridge-building activity. Students considered structural design, material use, and task allocation while working within limited conditions to develop stable and functional structures. In the afternoon, they also worked with micro:bit devices, writing programs and observing the results in operation. Through hands-on activities involving hardware, structural design, and programming, students were introduced to different fields of study while gaining a better understanding of YunTech’s educational approach and learning environment.

Students also visited the cleanroom and materials analysis laboratory of the Department of Electronic Engineering, where they learned about semiconductor-related teaching, experimental equipment, and research environments. These experiences extended the knowledge gained during their industry visits into the context of university education, helping students understand the connection between technological industries and talent development.

Beyond professional learning, the six-day summer camp incorporated a range of cultural and everyday-life experiences in Taiwan. Students visited the Hsinchu City God Temple Night Market, Douliu Night Market, Lukang in Changhua, and the Taiwan Glass Gallery, gaining exposure to Taiwan’s local cuisine, history and culture, traditional industries, and craftsmanship. During their stay, students enjoyed popular Taiwanese foods and drinks, including bubble tea, fried chicken cutlets, and potstickers, and also experienced the communal round-table dining style commonly found in Taiwan. Through firsthand exploration and everyday experiences, students were able to engage with Taiwanese life beyond classrooms and industry settings, experiencing local customs and cultural characteristics in a different linguistic and cultural environment. The program thus provided an international learning experience that combined professional education with cultural exploration.

At the closing ceremony, Professor Pao-Jung Ni, Vice President of Fukuoka Institute of Technology, delivered remarks. He noted that the summer camp gave students opportunities to enter Taiwan’s semiconductor industry and university campuses firsthand and to understand the capabilities required for semiconductor talent development from perspectives including research, technology, industrial applications, and professional education. He also emphasized that leaving a familiar learning environment and experiencing new industries and cultures in another country is itself an important learning experience. He encouraged students to make the most of their time in Taiwan, continue exploring their interests, develop their professional capabilities and international perspectives, and turn what they had seen and experienced in Taiwan into valuable foundations for their future studies and careers.

Professor Hui-Ching Yeh, YunTech Vice President for International Affairs, highlighted a motto by Dr. Morris Chang, founder of TSMC, that students encountered during their visit to the TSMC Innovation Museum: “Behind every severe challenge lies a beautiful future.” She noted that the message also reflects the learning and personal growth that students may experience if they choose to study in Taiwan in the future. For Japanese students interested in studying in Taiwan, learning a new language, adapting to cultural differences, and undertaking professional coursework may all present new challenges. Overcoming these challenges, however, can become an important part of developing professional capabilities and broadening international perspectives.

Professor Yeh encouraged students to view the summer camp as a starting point for learning more about Taiwan and YunTech and exploring their future possibilities. Should they choose to study in Taiwan in the future, she encouraged them to embrace the challenges of studying abroad, continue building professional knowledge and practical experience at YunTech, and pursue opportunities in the semiconductor field. She also expressed her hope that the students may one day become outstanding semiconductor professionals and potentially join international companies such as TSMC, contributing their expertise to the global technology industry and pursuing their own promising futures.

In recent years, YunTech has continued to promote specialized programs for Japanese students interested in semiconductor talent development, with an emphasis on university-level professional education, practical training, and connections with industry, as well as cross-disciplinary learning and international perspectives. This summer camp gave Japanese students an early opportunity to experience YunTech’s academic programs and learning environment while learning about Taiwan’s semiconductor industry. Through industry visits, hands-on professional activities, and cultural experiences, students gained a clearer understanding of the possibilities for studying and developing their professional careers in Taiwan.

Looking ahead, YunTech will continue to deepen its collaboration with Japanese high schools, colleges of technology (Kosen), and industry partners. Through a range of initiatives, including specialized semiconductor talent development programs for Japanese students, industry visits, and international exchange activities, the University will seek to attract more young people from Japan to study in Taiwan, expand its international partnership network, and cultivate semiconductor professionals equipped with professional expertise, practical experience, and global perspectives.

の銘「嚴峻挑戰的後面是美好的未來（厳しい挑戦の先には、素晴らしい未来がある）」を取り上げた。葉国際事務長は、この言葉は、学生たちが将来台湾へ留学する際に経験するであろう学びと成長の過程にも通じるものだと述べた。台湾への留学を考える日本人学生にとって、言語の習得や文化の違い、専門科目の学習など、さまざまな課題に直面する可能性があるが、そうした課題を乗り越える過程そのものが、専門能力を高め、国際的な視野を広げる重要な経験になると語った。

 また、葉国際事務長は、今回のサマーキャンプを台湾や雲科大を知り、自らの将来を考えるきっかけにしてほしいと学生たちを激励した。将来台湾への留学を選択した際には、留学生活で直面するさまざまな課題に向き合いながら、雲科大で専門知識と実務経験を積み、半導体分野での将来につなげてほしいと述べた。さらに、将来、優れた半導体人材として成長し、TSMCをはじめとする国際企業で、世界の科学技術産業を舞台にそれぞれの力を発揮することへの期待を示した。

 雲科大は近年、「日本人半導体人材育成プログラム」を継続的に推進しており、大学における専門教育、実践的な授業、産業界との連携を通じて、産業実務、分野横断的な学習、国際的な視野を重視した人材育成に取り組んでいる。今回のサマーキャンプでは、日本の若者が雲科大の専門教育や学習環境、台湾の半導体産業について事前に知る機会を提供し、産業訪問、専門実習、文化体験を通じて、将来の台湾留学や専門分野でのキャリア形成について考える機会となった。今後、雲科大は日本の高校、高等専門学校（高専）および産業界との連携をさらに深め、「日本人半導体人材育成プログラム」、産業訪問、国際交流など多様な取り組みを通じて、より多くの日本の若者が台湾で学ぶ機会を創出するとともに、国際連携ネットワークを拡大し、専門能力、実務経験、国際的な視野を兼ね備えた半導体人材の育成を推進していく。

YunTech faculty, staff, and Japanese students gather for a group photo at the closing ceremony, marking the successful conclusion of the Semiconductor Talent Development Summer Camp.

Japanese students gain insights into Taiwan’s technology industry by exploring semiconductor research, R&D, and industrial applications firsthand.

From a single chip to the global supply chain, Japanese students gain a deeper understanding of Taiwan’s semiconductor industry and its development.

From programming and control to structural design, Japanese students explore diverse fields through hands-on courses offered by YunTech’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and Department of Industrial Engineering and Management.

Japanese students visit the cleanroom and materials analysis laboratory of YunTech’s Department of Electronic Engineering, gaining firsthand insights into semiconductor-related teaching and hands-on learning environments.

Organizer: Office of International Affairs
Director: Hui-Ching Yeh
Contact Person: Ming-Chun Chang
Telephone: +886-5-534-2601 ext. 2393

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