Establishing Educational Institutes That Facilitate Diverse and Adaptive Learning

Asia Eastern University of Science and Technology / Yu Chang Technical and Commercial Vocational Senior High School / Yuan Ze University

FENC values diverse and adaptive learning, encouraging students to apply what they have learned to achieve self-fulfillment. Over the years, the Company has established the Oriental Institute of Technology, Yu Chang Technical and Commercial Vocational Senior High School and Yuan Ze University, providing students with options in terms of the right educational environment based on career development to bridge the gap between what students learn at schools and the skills required at the workplace. Since 2012, the affiliates of FEG expanded the practical training program for students. As of today, 805 students have participated in the industry-academia internship program and entered the companies after graduation. Such programs have created a win-win for students, corporations and society. (Please refer to Recruitment and Retention. )

 

Asia Eastern University of Science and Technology, formerly known as Oriental Institute of Technology, held the opening ceremony for Malaysian High-Tech Talent Incubator with the Overseas Community Affairs Council on September 27, 2022. The base will start offering two-year associate degree programs specializing in Application of 5G Technology, Electrical Engineering and Long-term Care. A minimum of 20 Malaysian students will be admitted each semester. The Overseas Community Affairs Council will be providing the resources needed and partnering with the Malaysian industry. The base will be the incubator of talents in the technological and long-term care industries for the Taiwanese corporations in Malaysia. On December 12, the university received a delegation of middle school principals and superintendents from Malaysia and helped them understand admission policies regarding overseas Taiwanese students. On December 14, the university received 170 Chinese Malaysian students from the Overseas Compatriot Youth Taiwan Study Tour.

The world is changing rapidly. At Yu Chang Vocational High School (YCVS), the educational focus is not solely on developing students’ skills, techniques and innovative thinking. The school places equal importance on culture, humanity, sustainability and the development of a worldview. It is a cradle of talents for the industries. It is also the cradle of new-collar workers for the entire society. YCVS is preparing students with the ability to respond to challenges with agility. The curriculum for electrical engineering includes preparation programs for four certifications – interior wiring; computer hardware fabrication; network installation; industrial wiring. To give students a competitive edge, YCVS added courses and practical training for the certification of water supply piping. During the winter break in 2022, Director Jun-Liang Chen gathered 20 higher-level students who wished to obtain the certifications to attend the training. Their hard work paid off as all 20 students passed the exam. The certification, which is issued by the Ministry of Labor, gives the students the credential to undertake plumbing projects for the water supply system. An added benefit of the water supply piping certification is that students could use the certification to apply for a plumber’s permit from the Ministry of Economic.

 

Yuan Ze University (YZU) is positioning itself as the incubator of global talents. In 2022, YZU established the Corporate Academy and International Academy. The Corporate Academy partners with FEG and offers a curriculum that caters to corporate needs. With both academicians and industry experts among its faculty, the academy matches students’ employability with the corporate needs for talents. To consolidate and strengthen the English programs among all colleges, YZU founded the International Academy and recruited ten additional foreign teachers. English courses from the freshman to senior years at YZU are taught in an English-only environment at the academy with a focus on innovative concepts such as net zero, sustainability and smart applications. YZU also signed an MOU with Ardentec Technology Inc. to establish the Semiconductor Academy, which will focus on R&D projects that are tailored to industry trends, benefitting both the students and the industry.

 

To call attention to climate issues, YZU co-hosted the climate summit, R20xYZU Climate Change Sustainability Summit on November 11, 2022. Michèle Sabban, Honorable President of R20 Regions of Climate Action and Chairperson of R20 Green Fund for Women, and Natasha Ilic, Secretariat General of R20 Green Fund for Women led a delegation to Taiwan. During the event, Michèle Sabban shared the progress R20 Regions of Climate Action and R20 Green Fund for Women have made in the world. Linda Wang, Sustainability Manager of IKEA Group shared IKEA’s journey to global sustainability. Tony Hsieh, Country Director of Google Cloud in Taiwan discussed the transition to Net Zero 2030. Also in attendance were Humphrey Cheng, President of Corporate Management of FENC; Eugene Chien, Chairman of Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy and Ambassador-at-large; sustainability managers and CEOs of top 100 corporations. The distinguished guests explored key issues related to climate change and sustainability and signed a climate proposal. Multiple affiliates of FEG were also in attendance. 

Also included in the forum are segments on Net-Zero Transition and Opportunities as well as ESG and Civic Duties. While the former is a discussion on how domestic businesses could transform successfully to adapt to the net-zero era, the latter calls on youths’ understanding that ESG is an obligation for global citizens. In addition to aligning with global trends, it is essential to cultivate civic literacy targeting ESG.

 

Shining International Spotlight Onto Taiwan With International Competitions

Young Student Physicists’ Tournament

To build a solid foundation in science education among young students, Y. Z. Hsu Science and Technology Memorial Foundation started the Y. Z. Hsu Competition-Taiwan Young Student Physicists’ Tournament in 2009 with the Department of Physics, National Taiwan Normal University. The competition is open to high school student teams around the nation. Students who perform well during the competition will be recruited to the national team, which will train with professors from National Taiwan Normal University and compete in the International Young Physicists’ Tournament (IYPT).

The twelve questions for contestants of the Taiwan Young Student Physicists’ Tournament are selected from the 17 questions published by IYPT. The tournament attracts students from top high schools each year. They conduct experiments or simulations based on each question; report and debate over their findings with other contestants during the tournament. As of 2022, the 13th year of the tournament, the event has attracted 1,955 contestants and awarded NT$13.73 million in prizes. Y. Z. Hsu Science and Technology Memorial Foundation has been sponsoring food, accommodation and transportation for the IYPT national team members. The students were exceptional, winning 1 gold, 6 silver and 5 bronze medals.

The influence of the Taiwan Young Student Physicists’ Tournament (TYPT) is far-reaching. The tournament prompted the establishment of physicist’s clubs in Taipei Municipal Jianguo High School and Kaohsiung Municipal Kaohsiung Senior High School. The questions given during the tournament are also taught during the physics courses at the National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei American School, National Changhua Girl’s Senior High School and Mingdao High School. Starting in 2014, the National Taiwan Normal University has been offering speculative physics, which discusses questions from the International Young Physicists' Tournament (IYPT) during a current year. The instructors guide students to navigate through the thought process of inference, speculation and research. Many science programs in Taiwan also started referencing the physics materials referenced during IYPT, such as the national competition for innovative science teaching aids; physics tournaments for high schools and colleges; national competitions for high school physics inquiry and practice; national and regional science fairs.

Inspiring Next Generation Talents to Embrace Emerging Fields With Platform of Exchange

Y. Z. Hsu Innovation Forum

Y. Z. Hsu Science and Technology Memorial Foundation hosted the first Y. Z. Hsu Innovation Forum in 2013 to encourage youth to enter the field of science and technology and create a new future for the next generation. In 2022, with the celebration of the foundation's 20th anniversary, five more Y. Z. Hsu Innovation Forum were held. FENC brought the forum to senior high schools, including Taipei Municipal Jianguo High School, Taipei First Girls High School, The Affiliated Senior High School of National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei Municipal Zhongshan Girls High School and National Experiment High School At Hsinchu Science Park. This arrangement gives high school students exposure to diverse technological fields. Winners of Y. Z. Hsu Science Award are invited as speakers and panelists to share their experience and legacy, inspiring young students to embrace emerging technological industries. Based on the satisfaction survey, participants are highly satisfied with the forum.

 

14th Taiwan Young Student Physicists’ Tournament—Thoughts from Students and Advisors

Source: Interviews from the 14th TYPT

 

2022 Results of Y. Z. Hsu Innovation Forum

Theme	Explore Passion, Envision Future
Session	Chien Kuo High School	Affiliated Senior High School of NTNU	Taipei First Girls High School	Zhongshan Girls High School	National Experimental High School at Hsinchu Science Park
Speakers	Chung-Wen Lan Professor, Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University Winner of the 19th Y. Z. Hsu Science Chair Professor – Green Technology Category		Ching-Chow Chen Professor, Department of Pharmacy, National Taiwan University Winner of the 14th Y. Z. Hsu Science Chair Professor – Biopharmaceutical Category		Yung-Fu Chen Professor, Department of Electrophysics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University Winner of the 18th Y. Z. Hsu Science Chair Professor – Optoelectronics Category
Influence	A total of 1,144 people watched the event, including 531 on-site participants and 613 online viewers. The program videos accumulated approximately 5,800 views with online coverages accumulating approximately 960,000 views.

 

Y. Z. Hsu Innovation Forum highlight

⇥Coverage of 2022 Y. Z. Hsu Innovation Forum (Chinese)

Video footage of 2022 Y. Z. Hsu Innovation Forum (Chinese)