To meet the urgent demand for AI professionals and help businesses quickly identify and hire top talent, the Taiwan AI Academy Foundation is promoting a certification program. It has selected one university from each region—north, central, and south—to serve as a regional certification center. Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology (STUST) stood out for its excellent AI education and was chosen as the sole representative for the southern region and the only university of science and technology. On September 9, the two parties formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This collaboration holds STUST as a base to promote various levels of AI professional certification in the Tainan, Chiayi, and Yunlin areas. The partnership will also strengthen both organizations’ brand presence in the AI field and position STUST as a leader in the southern region’s AI talent ecosystem.

【Nen-Fu Huang, President of STUST, and Ling-Chih Chen, CEO of the Taiwan AI Academy Foundation, were shaking hands after signing the MOU. This partnership makes STUST the only university of science and technology in Taiwan to collaborate with the Taiwan AI Academy, combining their respective strengths in AI talent development and technology applications to expand their influence on the industry.】

Leading AI Education: Building a Hub for Southern Talent Certification and Development

This certification program is designed to provide businesses with objective standards for talent evaluation. It also allows individuals to self-assess their skills and participate in training for upskilling and reskilling. Both parties will integrate their resources and brand influence to jointly promote certification exams, ensuring that the development of AI professionals in the southern region aligns seamlessly with industry needs. STUST will serve as the core of this initiative, extending its advantages and influence in AI education throughout the entire collaborative region.

Nurturing flexible AI Talent: Enhancing Student Competitiveness and Career Development

Nen-Fu Huang, President of STUST, stated that this MOU is highly significant for STUST’s strategic position in AI education. The partnership not only makes STUST a leader in southern AI talent certification and development but also aligns with the university’s mission—AI Sets Sail and STUST Leads the Way—which focuses on nurturing flexible AI talent for all industries. This certification will provide STUST graduates with powerful professional credentials, helping them stand out in the job market. At the same time, it offers a path for upskilling and reskilling for professionals, fostering lifelong learning and contributing to Taiwan's overall AI talent ecosystem.

Deepening Collaboration: Tightly Linking Academia and Industry

The Taiwan AI Academy Foundation will provide the complete process and content for the certification program, including question creation, review, registration, and grading. STUST will be responsible for providing high-quality exam venues, assigning invigilators, and collaborating with the foundation on promotion. This model of cooperation not only addresses the lack of AI education and certification resources in the southern region but also, through the partnership between an academic institution and a professional foundation, provides a solid talent base for the development of Taiwan’s AI industry, realizing a vision of a win-win situation for both academia and industry.