To support the Ministry of Education’s policy on promoting the “International Industrial Talents Education Special Program for International Students in Taiwan” (New Special Program), the Philippines International Talent Circulation Base held the unveiling ceremony of the “Mindanao Branch Office” on May 13 at the Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) in the Philippines. The establishment of this office will serve as an important gateway for students in southern Philippines to learn about Taiwan’s higher education system and industrial development opportunities, while also expanding cooperation between Taiwan and the Philippines in cultivating international industrial talents.

Representatives from both Taiwan and the Philippines attended the unveiling ceremony. On the Taiwan side, representatives from the Philippines International Talent Circulation Base participated, including the lead university National Chung Hsing University, as well as partner universities Kun Shan University and Cheng Shiu University. On the Philippine side, representatives from Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology and Bulacan State University jointly witnessed the launch of the office, demonstrating the participating institutions’ shared commitment to promoting the New Special Program and international talent circulation.

The Philippines International Talent Circulation Base stated that, in alignment with the Ministry of Education’s New Special Program policy, the base focuses on industry demands and Taiwan’s industrial development strategies. It aims to help Filipino youth connect with Taiwan’s educational resources and industrial internship opportunities. Priority recruitment fields include STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), finance, and semiconductor-related disciplines, with the goal of cultivating international talents equipped with both professional expertise and practical experience. In the future, the Mindanao Branch Office will provide services such as consultation on the New Special Program, Chinese language learning resources, and guidance for studying in Taiwan, helping local students gain a more comprehensive understanding of educational pathways and future career opportunities in Taiwan.

Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology is a major higher education institution in southern Philippines with significant regional influence. Through the establishment of this branch office, Taiwan’s connections with the Philippines and neighboring institutions around MSU-IIT will be further strengthened. Moving forward, the office plans to gradually introduce Chinese language learning resources and academic bridging programs, fostering long-term partnerships between Taiwanese universities and universities in southern Philippines.

The Philippines International Talent Circulation Base emphasized that the Philippines possesses abundant young talent and strong potential for higher education development, making it an important partner in Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy for talent cultivation. In the future, the base will continue to integrate resources from Taiwanese partner universities through its branch office service network, assisting more Filipino youth in studying in Taiwan through the New Special Program and participating in industry-academia internship opportunities, thereby further strengthening substantive cooperation between Taiwan and the Philippines in education, industry, and talent circulation.