As the global technology supply chain becomes increasingly interconnected, cultivating transnational tech talent has emerged as a core mission for higher education. Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology (STUST), consistently ranked as the top private tech university favored by enterprises, recently celebrated a major milestone. Hosted by the Office of Research and Development and Industry-Academia Cooperation (Industry-Academia Extension Division), the graduation ceremony for the "2025 International Talent Training Program—Mexico Sonora Class" was grandly held on June 27th at the College of Engineering. Thirty outstanding young scholars from Mexico successfully completed a rigorous 10-month training program in Taiwan, returning home with fruitful professional and cultural achievements.

【Global Cultivation & Glorious Graduation】STUST hosts a grand graduation ceremony for the "Mexico Sonora Program." Executive Vice President Hong-De Chang joyfully poses with the 30 Mexican graduates, witnessing the fruitful results of transnational industry-academia diplomacy. He is joined by university executives and academic leaders including Dean of R&D Chun-Sheng Chang, Engineering Vice Dean Yeou-Jiunn Chen, Director of the International Foundation Program Jing-Jou Tang, and Section Chief of International Cooperation Yu-Sheng Lin; along with the Semiconductor Department's forward-looking faculty team, Chair Ruey-Ching Twu, Professor Ching-Ming Hsu, and Associate Professor Wen-Tuan Wu; as well as ITRI Research Director Alan Tsao and Project Manager Hsin-Yen Hsieh.

Top-Tier Faculty and High-Tech Facilities: Strengthening Bilingual and Professional Prowess

To tailor this program for Mexican tech talents, STUST designed an all-English curriculum spanning four major fields, gathering the College of Engineering's strongest faculty roster. This included professors from the Departments of Semiconductor and Optoelectronic Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, and Computer Science and Information Engineering. Beyond solid theoretical instruction, the practical courses fully utilized STUST’s top-tier facilities, such as the "Semiconductor Center," the "Advanced Smart Manufacturing Technology Center," and the "Automotive Electronics Technology Research Center." During their studies, the university's Bilingual Center also provided comprehensive support through Mandarin learning and cultural immersion courses, enabling the students to deeply understand and integrate into Taiwanese society.

【Top-Tier Faculty Cultivating AI & Semiconductors】STUST Dean of R&D Chun-Sheng Chang, Engineering Vice Dean Yeou-Jiunn Chen, and Semiconductor Dept. Chair Ruey-Ching Twu gathered at the event. The university announced that the third cohort of 30 Mexican elites will arrive in September to continue deepening bilateral ties.

"Leaving a Piece of Ourselves in Taiwan": Moving Speeches from the Graduates

The most touching moments of the ceremony came from the valedictory speeches of two student representatives. Victor Manuel Osornio Montaño delivered his heartfelt remarks entirely in the Mandarin he had diligently studied over the past months. "During our time in Taiwan, we experienced the kindness of the Taiwanese people and a culture rooted in 'respect.' Having this experience is a gift we will forever be grateful for," he said emotionally. "Although we return home tomorrow, I know every classmate here feels the same way—we will be leaving a piece of ourselves in Taiwan." He deeply thanked the STUST faculty for their accessible and engaging teaching, which allowed the cohort to make immense strides in their professional knowledge. "We are about to leave Taiwan, but this is absolutely not the end; rather, it is the starting point where dreams and professional navigation begin!" He expressed his hope that all graduates would return home with a greater mission to build a better future for the next generation, firmly believing that blossoming creativity can change the world.

【A Heartfelt 'Thank You' in Mandarin】Graduate representative Victor Manuel Osornio Montaño delivers a fluent Mandarin speech. He emotionally shared his deep appreciation for Taiwan's culture of respect and kindness, noting that all the students will "leave a piece of themselves in Taiwan."

Another representative, Morelia Montoya Alfaro, delivered her speech in English. She recalled leaving her hometown 10 months ago, carrying both grand aspirations and anxieties. Today, she has not only completed her studies but has also undergone a complete professional transformation while experiencing Taiwan's most precious asset: its hospitality.

【Blossoming Creativity, Taking Flight】Graduate representative Morelia Montoya Alfaro delivers her English address, thanking STUST for the transformative professional growth and urging her peers to use their expertise to change the world.

Third Cohort Arriving in September: Sustained Dedication to Global AI and Semiconductor Talent

To recognize the students' outstanding performance, a heavyweight lineup of university officials and faculty attended the ceremony. Executive Vice President Hong-De Chang attended in person to offer words of encouragement, joined by Dean of Research and Development Chun-Sheng Chang, Vice Dean of the College of Engineering Yeou-Jiunn Chen, Director of the International Foundation Program Jing-Jou Tang, and Section Chief of International Cooperation Yu-Sheng Lin. Academic leaders from the Department of Semiconductor and Optoelectronic Engineering, including Chair Ruey-Ching Twu, Professor Ching-Ming Hsu, and Associate Professor Wen-Tuan Wu, also witnessed this milestone in Taiwan-Mexico industry-academia cooperation.

【Transnational Bonds & Warm Farewells】The ceremony was filled with laughter and reluctance to part. Mexican students capture precious memories with Director Jing-Jou Tang, Section Chief Yu-Sheng Lin, and Chair Ruey-Ching Twu.

【Warm Guardianship of International Ties】Director Jing-Jou Tang shares a joyful moment with the graduating Mexican students. Over the past 10 months, the STUST team served as not only a strong academic pillar but also a meticulous caregiver in daily life and cultural adaptation.

【The Most Beautiful Imprint at STUST】"We will leave a piece of ourselves in Taiwan!" Graduate representative Victor Manuel Osornio Montaño (front) captures a touching moment surrounded by his classmates' radiant smiles, perfectly capping off a rewarding journey.

【Youthful Selfies, Crossing Borders】The ceremony brimmed with youthful energy as graduates enthusiastically took selfies. These joy-filled images document their professional growth and their happiest moments studying at STUST.

【Global Cultivation & Glorious Graduation】STUST hosts a grand graduation ceremony for the "Mexico Sonora Program." Executive Vice President Hong-De Chang joyfully poses with the 30 Mexican graduates, witnessing the fruitful results of transnational industry-academia diplomacy. He is joined by university executives and academic leaders including Dean of R&D Chun-Sheng Chang, Engineering Vice Dean Yeou-Jiunn Chen, Director of the International Foundation Program Jing-Jou Tang, and Section Chief of International Cooperation Yu-Sheng Lin; along with the Semiconductor Department's forward-looking faculty team, Chair Ruey-Ching Twu, Professor Ching-Ming Hsu, and Associate Professor Wen-Tuan Wu; as well as ITRI Research Director Alan Tsao and Project Manager Hsin-Yen Hsieh.

【Passionate Support & Bright Smiles】Mexican students happily pose with STUST staff member Lin Ping-Tsang, who enthusiastically assisted them throughout the program. With comprehensive administrative support and local hospitality, STUST became the strongest and most comforting backing for these international students.

【Cutting-Edge Tech & Dedicated Mentorship】Mexican program students joyfully pose with Professor Ching-Ming Hsu and Associate Professor Wen-Tuan Wu from the Department of Semiconductor and Optoelectronic Engineering. The students expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the faculty's meticulous guidance throughout the training program, which led them to deeply explore Taiwan's world-leading semiconductor and optoelectronic technologies.

【Aligning with National R&D】Students visit the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI). Through on-site exploration, the Mexican scholars witnessed Taiwan's top-tier R&D capabilities as a global tech island.

【Exploring Industrial Innovation】An in-depth enterprise visit to Htc Vacuum Technology. Through professional briefings, the students gained a profound understanding of Taiwan's core industrial innovations and future trends.

【Absorbing Sustainable Wisdom】Students attend the "Smart City Summit & Expo" in Kaohsiung, engaging with global sustainability trends and forward-looking concepts in urban governance and IoT applications.

【Witnessing a Supply Chain Giant】Mexican scholars were invited to the prestigious "Hon Hai Tech Day" (HHTD), experiencing firsthand Taiwan's critical strategic position and formidable hardware manufacturing prowess in the global supply chain.

【Live-Fire Semiconductor Training】Students conduct lithography practical’s in STUST's cleanroom at the "Semiconductor Center," building immediate readiness for advanced semiconductor manufacturing.

【Smart Manufacturing Drills】Students get hands-on experience at the "Advanced Smart Manufacturing Technology Center." Operating top-tier, industry-standard equipment, they engaged in Industry 4.0 human-machine collaboration, turning practical experience into problem-solving wisdom.

【Transnational Academic Exchange】Students enthusiastically participated in the "International Symposium on Novel and Sustainable Technology (ISNST)" hosted by STUST's College of Engineering, engaging in deep dialogues with top global scholars.

【Inspired by Industry Masters】Students focus intently during an expert lecture on campus. Hearing firsthand from industry veterans vastly expanded their international perspectives and career aspirations.

【Mandarin & Cultural Integration】Through dynamic Mandarin courses organized by STUST's Bilingual Center, Mexican students overcame the language barrier and connected intimately with local Taiwanese life.

【A Warm and Inclusive Christmas】Celebrating at the campus Christmas party, the students felt the warmth and hospitality of the festive season in a foreign land, highlighting STUST's highly inclusive and friendly international atmosphere.

【A Majestic Hike with Faculty】Director Jing-Jou Tang led the students out of the classroom for an energetic hiking trip. Taking in Taiwan’s beautiful mountain scenery helped forge deep transnational bonds between faculty and students.

【A Romantic Grass Concert】Students immerse themselves in the romantic melodies of STUST's "Grass Concert," enjoying the breezy, laid-back campus life in southern Taiwan.

【Exploring Tainan’s Local Faith】A cultural visit to the Luermen Temple in Tainan allowed the Mexican students to deeply experience the architectural beauty and traditional folk culture of Taiwan's oldest city.

【Art meets Technology】Invited by ITRI, students attended a special music concert in Kaohsiung. This elegant artistic feast added a rich humanistic undertone to their rigorous technological journey.

【Singing and Mingling: The "Taiwanese Mom"】Supported by Director Jing-Jou Tang, Mexican and Vietnamese students gathered at the Sixth Dormitory restaurant for a joyful karaoke mixer. The restaurant owner, affectionately dubbed "Taiwanese Mom," cared for the students' stomachs with her heartwarming local food, forging cross-cultural friendships in STUST’s international learning paradise.

【Smart Networking & AIoT Practicals】Students focus on their AIoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things) courses. Guided by STUST's top faculty, they seamlessly integrated AI computing with IoT sensing technologies, cementing crucial hard skills through a "learning by doing" approach.

【Confident Transformations: Project Exhibition】At the graduation project exhibition, Mexican students merged classroom theory with practical insights gained from visiting top tech factories. Presenting concrete solutions for AIoT applications under the guidance of STUST faculty, they perfectly embodied the spirit of practical and applied learning.

From welcoming the first cohort of 21 students in September 2024 to graduating 30 students this year, STUST's exceptional educational outcomes have garnered high international acclaim. Currently, a third cohort of 30 students has already passed the Sonora state government's strict selection process and is set to arrive in Taiwan this September. Looking ahead, STUST will continue to deepen its international talent cultivation in semiconductors, AI technology applications, and smart manufacturing, continuously injecting top-tier tech elites with a global perspective into the worldwide industry supply chain.